asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the amount of revenue accrued from the sale of postage stamps in the past year and how this figure compares with the previous year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Postage Stamp Sales.
10.
The information required by the Deputy is about £30.6 million in 1979 as against £40.5 million in 1978. A provisional figure only is available for 1979 at this stage.
Can the Minister indicate what the estimated net loss will be?
The reduction in receipts for 1979 is due to the prolonged postal strike which gave rise to an estimated loss of £13 million in postal revenue. Against that loss there were savings in expenditure, in terms of salaries, wages and so on, of postal personnel, of approximately £10 million.
Is there any improvement in the service in 1980 in respect of revenue?
Yes.
To what extent?
I would not have the total extent of the improvement but indications are that the revenue has increased. However, if the Deputy wishes to table a separate question in this regard I shall let him have the information but this will be based on the 1979 figures.
11.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the steps being taken to improve the export sales of philatelic material.
My Department have in recent years given increased attention to all aspects of philately. The number and variety of special and commemorative stamps have been increased and planning, design and marketing efforts have been strengthened. Improved foreign sales have been sought by the appointment of agents to promote and sell Irish stamps in the USA, Britain and Western Europe, by advertising widely in leading philatelic magazines and journals and by sending information in multi-lingual form for each new stamp issue to more than 20,000 people overseas, including 300 journalists.
My Department are also participating to a growing extent in international philatelic exhibitions. The London 1980 exhibition, held this month, is the major international exhibition of the year and I was happy to attend the exhibition on 7 May to launch our new stamps in the "Europa" series featuring George Bernard Shaw and Oscar Wilde.
Would the Minister consider this to be an appropriate time to name the agents to whom he refers? He referred to the issuing of commemorative stamps. In this regard would he consider the time appropriate also for the issuing of a new series of airmail stamps?
The names of the firms appointed are: on the British market, James Davis and Sons Limited, Rickmansworth, Herts, England, who were appointed in July 1979; for the US and the Canadian markets, Philatelic Consultants Limited, Providence, Rhode Island, appointed in March 1979 and for the Western European market, Agences Philateliques Gouvernementales, Brussels, appointed April 1980. In reply to the second part of the question, I have asked the advisory committee to consider the issuing of a new airmail stamp. We have not had a change in this regard since 1948.
That was a very constructive exchange.
Was Dr. Singer not considered?
That was a planted question.