asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state whether compensation is paid for packages posted in Éire to an address in this country and sent by letter or parcel post which have been stolen or lost in transit; further, if he will state if the sender is in a better position to claim compensation if he obtains a receipt for the package when handed to the Post Office for transmission by either letter or parcel post.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Compensation for Lost Postal Packets.
The Deputy will find full information in pages 49, 50 and 51 of Eoluidhe. an Phoist, which is available at all post offices.
Compensation within limits laid down in Departmental regulations is paid in respect of registered letters and registered and unregistered parcels posted for delivery within the country, and lost or stolen in course of post. In all cases a certificate of posting is necessary.
Is the Minister aware that in this case a man sent, on two separate occasions, packages of cigarettes by post. He got a receipt for one, but neither arrived. He complained to the Minister and the Minister did not answer his letter until after I had put down my question. I have personal knowledge of two other packages of cigarettes which were despatched by post. Receipts were got for them, and one arrived and the other did not. This means that, out of four packages posted, three were either stolen or lost, and I suggest that that is a very serious state of affairs.
Has the Deputy a further question to put on the matter?
Mr. Dockrell
I should like to suggest to the Minister——
A suggestion is not a question.
Mr. Dockrell
Is he prepared to take further precautions in order to prevent such a large rate of either loss or pilferage? I say that it is a scandal.
That is a question, I presume.
In reply to a question by the Deputy on a previous occasion, I went into the question of pilferage in the post. That does not arise on this question at all. If the Deputy has any individual case to raise—a matter of detail of that sort—if he will come to me, I will have the matter dealt with. That kind of thing cannot be dealt with in the House.
Mr. Dockrell
When an individual writes to a Minister and does not get a reply, what is his next step? Is it not to go to a Deputy?
To find out from the Minister why he did not reply.