(Dublin Central) asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of parcels handled by his Department in Dublin city and county in the months ended (a) 31st December, 1974 and (b) 31st December, 1975.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Parcels Mail.
29.
The information requested is estimated as follows: (a) 755,000; (b) 675,000.
(Dublin Central): Will the Minister not agree that there was a substantial loss in revenue to the Department of Posts and Telegraphs due to the strike of parcel post at Christmas time? Can the Minister give any indication of the loss of revenue?
I cannot give the Deputy that information at the moment but as soon as I have it I will give it to him. There certainly would have been some loss of revenue over Christmas but, as I have indicated, taking the month of December as a whole the loss of revenue would have been very small.
(Dublin Central): Would the Minister agree now that, from a financial point of view, it would have been better if the overtime had been paid at that time and balance that against the loss in parcels during the Christmas period?
I regret very much that the Opposition spokesman for Posts and Telegraphs should have made this point or that this kind of point should be made at all. The point is that the function of working overtime is to meet a certain volume of expected work. The categories involved were offered overtime corresponding to the volume of expected work and in addition to that a certain number of additional people, unemployed people, would have been taken on as well. One category of worker refused overtime on the basis that irrespective of what volume of work was expected they should get the same as the year before. That was an unreasonable demand. I think the House will agree, and I am sure my predecessors in the Department of Posts and Telegraphs would all agree, that efficiency in the public service and in the post office is not going to be increased by giving in to unreasonable demands just because the people concerned have a bit of leverage and can make their muscle felt particularly at a sensitive season like Christmas. I am sorry once more that the gentleman opposite should be encouraging irresponsible action which was taken over Christmas.
The remaining questions——
(Dublin Central): The Minister seems to imply——
A brief question is permitted.
(Dublin Central): It was not my intention to be irresponsible. I was trying to draw attention to the loss of revenue——
A brief question is permitted.
Why does the Chair not protect Deputy Fitzpatrick?
(Dublin Central): Will the Minister not agree that the serious reduction that took place in parcel and Christmas card post this Christmas will happen again next Christmas? The Minister will find that there will be a loss of revenue next Christmas because people have practically given up posting Christmas cards.
I am sorry the Deputy should suggest that.
(Dublin Central): It will happen.
The remaining questions will appear on the Order Paper for the next sitting day of the Dáil.