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Joint Committee on Transport and Communications to discuss future of post office network with An Post CEO and Rapid Antigen Testing for aviation and travel

8 Meith 2021, 17:45

The Joint Committee on Transport and Communications will meet twice tomorrow, Wednesday, 9 June, in separate sessions to discuss the viability of and opportunities for the Post Office Network and Rapid Antigen Testing in relation to aviation and travel.

The first session from 9.30-11.30am in Committee Room 2 of Leinster House will hear from David McRedmond, CEO of An Post.

Ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Kieran O’Donnell said: “The Committee was concerned by reports last week from postmasters that post office services could face collapse following a reduction in charges paid by An Post due to take effect from July 1. There was also concern expressed at the delay in providing additional state services promised in 2018.

“Post offices provide important services and community links and the potential loss of these facilities would be damaging to rural and urban Ireland alike. The Committee looks forward to discussing these issues and related matters with Mr McRedmond.”

The Committee will then reconvene in the same room from 12.30-2.30pm to hear from Barry O’Brien, Project Leader with Duelchem Ltd, and Dr Niamh Power, director of V1 Medical.

Deputy O’Donnell said: “The Committee strongly believes that rapid antigen testing has a key role to play as the aviation and tourism sectors reopen in the months ahead. Last month we wrote to the Minister for Transport recommending the urgent commencement of a pilot programme of rapid antigen testing for aviation ahead the EU’s Digital Green Certificate coming into operation later this month.

“Now that aviation travel in Ireland is scheduled to resume from July 19, it is even more critical that a rapid antigen testing system be developed and put in place at our airports. We look forward to discussing with Mr O’Brien and Dr Power how rapid antigen testing can facilitate the reopening of aviation, international travel and tourism.”

The Joint Committee on Transport and Communications has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meeting in Committee Room 2 can be viewed live on Oireachtas.ie.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.

Fiosrúcháin ó na meáin

Robert Kennedy-Cochrane,
Tithe an Oireachtais,
Oifigeach Cumarsáide,
Teach Laighean, 
Baile Átha Cliath 2
+353 1 618 4149
+353 85 870 7436
robert.kennedy-cochrane@oireachtas.ie

pressoffice@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: @OireachtasNews

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