View allAll Photos Tagged unbanked
Some days it just ain't happenin' (no 'G').
If you'd like to see the others from my 365, they're here: flic.kr/s/aHskPxovML
Thanks for looking!
Candid street shot Madeira.
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Shylock is a fictional character in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. A Venetian Jewish moneylender, Shylock is the play's principal antagonist. His defeat and his conversion to Christianity forms the climax of the story.
Typically played as a villain until the nineteenth century, Shylock has been increasingly portrayed as a semi-tragic figure whose vengeful acts arise from his victimisation.
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A moneylender is a person or group who offers small personal loans at high rates of interest.The high interest rates charged by them is justified in many cases by the risk involved.
They play an active role in lending to people with less access to banking activities, such as the unbanked or underbanked or in situations where borrowers do not have good credit history. They sometimes lend to people like gamblers and compulsive shoppers who often get into debt.
Many countries have laws in place that requires money lenders to be registered and limits on the interest rates that may be charged.
101/365
In 1957 the Wild Mouse Rollercoaster was invented in Germany by Mack Rides. A Wild Mouse ride’s most distinctive mark is its tight and flat turns. Unlike most roller coasters, the turns aren’t banked which effects the rider’s experience in a couple of different ways. To begin with, the unbanked turns have to be taken at a modest speed in order to keep the car from tipping over. However, the feeling that your car might tip over at any moment is part of the thrill. The completely horizontal turns produce high lateral G-forces so that riders feel as though they are going to fly right off the rails. Wild Mouse rides usually feature a number of tight turns through a switchback section, which mercilessly whips the cars back and forth. Besides these quick turns, it is also common for these types of rides to include a series of “bunny hops,” quick rolling sections which yield sudden negative G-forces. The way in which the cars of a Wild Mouse ride are designed also contributes to the impression that the ride is out of control. They are small, usually seating four or less, and are often designed wider than the tracks, so that it appears to riders as if their car is off the rails.
The Wild Mouse is presently on tour in Redruth, Cornwall.
The Saunders-Roe (later British Hovercraft Corporation) SR.N6 hovercraft (also known as the Winchester class) was essentially a larger version of the earlier SR.N5 series. It incorporated several features that resulted in the type becoming the one of most produced and commercially successful hovercraft designs in the world.
While the SR.N2 and SR.N5s operated in commercial service as trials craft, the SR.N6 has the distinction of being the first production hovercraft to enter commercial service. In comparison to the SR.N5, the SR.N6 was stretched in length, providing more than double the seating capacity. Some models of the craft were stretched further, enabling an even greater capacity.
Experience gained in the development of the SR.N6 has been attributed as heavily contributing towards the design and production of the largest civil hovercraft to be ever produced, the SR.N4. Several major design features of the SR.N6 appeared on both the SR.N4 and further hovercraft designs by Saunders-Roe and its successor, the British Hovercraft Corporation.
In 1998, the Canadian Coast Guard decommissioned its last SR.N6 that was in active service, commissioned as CCGH 045.
Hovertravel is a ferry company operating from Southsea, Portsmouth to Ryde, Isle of Wight, UK. It is the only passenger hovercraft company currently operating in Britain since Hoverspeed stopped using its craft in favour of catamarans. Hovertravel is now the world's oldest hovercraft operator, and this service is believed to be unique in western Europe. The service commenced operations in 1965 and currently operates two hovercraft on a single route between Ryde and Southsea, although it formerly operated also between Ryde and Gosport, and Cowes and Southampton.
The service operates between Southsea Common on the English mainland and Ryde Transport Interchange on the Isle of Wight: the crossing time of less than 10 minutes makes it the fastest route across The Solent from land to land.
The Wild Mouse rollercoaster is on Clarence Pier which is an amusement pier in Portsmouth. Unlike most seaside piers in the UK, the pier does not extend very far out to sea and instead goes along the coast.
The pier was originally constructed in 1861 and boasted a regular ferry service to the Isle of Wight. It was damaged by air raids during World War II and opened in its current form in 1961.
The main funfair operates on a free admission, pay-per-ride token-based system. In the early 1980s, the amusement park was named "Fun Acres" and as well as the whole pier itself, it also took up 3500 sq metres of land or so to the North West of the Northern part of the pier. This part of the park was cleared and redeveloped as Another arcade called "Southsea Island Leisure", The Clarence Pier Public House, a crazy golf course and a Premier Inn during the 1990s, therefore the park itself is significantly smaller than it used to be. The old part of the park contained the 56-seat Corbiere Spherical Ferris Wheel and a ghost train among other attractions. The token booths were shaped as mushrooms.
A Wild Mouse roller coaster (also Mad Mouse or Crazy Mouse) is a type of roller coaster characterised by small cars that seat four people or fewer and ride on top of the track, taking tight, flat turns (without banking) at modest speeds, yet producing high lateral G-forces. The track work is characterised by many turns and bunny hops, the latter producing abrupt negative vertical G forces. When approaching a turn from a straight section the intended impression is that one will simply continue straight, and thus plunge off of the device, this since there are no transition sections as are in a conventional high speed coaster track and the turn itself is obscured upon close approach. Almost all Wild Mice feature "switchback" sections, consisting of several of these unbanked turns, separated by straight sections.
This Wooden Wild Mouse roller coaster, Was moved to Funland (Hayling Island) at the end of 1979, and was replaced with "Skyways". Parts of the ride were later used to construct David Pickstone's Wild Mouse at Brean Leisure Park in 1988.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hovertravel
Nine Stones Close is the remains of a 45ft diameter unbanked stone circle that most probably dates back to the Bronze Age. It is located approximately 5 miles north-west of the Derbyshire town of Matlock (“oak tree where meetings are held”), where it stands in a farmer’s field on Harthill ("Deer Hill") Moor, adjacent to the narrow road that runs between Alport (“old town”) and Elton (“farmstead where eels are got”). The circle is overtopped by an imposing rock outcrop known as Robin Hood’s Stride, which rises up from the moor a short distance away to the south-west. The outcrop may be the reason why the circle was constructed here. It is capped by two large stone pillars and when these were viewed from the centre of the circle during the Bronze Age, the moon would have been seen to set between them at midsummer.
Opinion is divided regarding the number of stones that originally constituted the circle, but there may once have been as many as eleven. The site was excavated in 1847 by Thomas Bateman who uncovered some imperfectly fired pottery sherds and a worked flint and he recorded that there were seven stones still standing back then. The four stones that remain today are the tallest in Derbyshire and range in height from 4ft to 7ft. Prior to its re-erection in 1936, the 7ft stone measured 11ft 6" long. Both it and its northern partner are now set in concrete. One of the missing stones now stands embedded within a nearby dry stone wall. It was apparently removed to serve as a gate post but the gate has subsequently been walled up.
Nine Stones Close stone circle is sometimes also referred to as “The Grey Ladies”. The name is based on a local tradition that the stones are transformed to dancing women at midnight. Others, however, claim that the transformation occurred the other way around and that the unfortunate ladies were transformed into the stones as they danced here at some late hour. Dancing and transformation are two myths commonly associated with prehistoric stone circles and just a mile away to the east on Stanton (“Farmstead on stony ground”) Moor there is another circle called Nine Ladies stone circle (www.flickr.com/photos/67668518@N08/11344032074/in/photost...) which is associated with a similar creation myth. In addition to all the dancing shenanigans Nine Stones Close stone circle is also said to be a place where the fairies sometimes meet and local folklore relates how fairy music has been heard and hundreds of mystical shapes have been seen dancing around the stones. A tale from the 19th century even tells of a farm labourer who found a clay pipe at the stones and when he smoked it he was able to peer through the surface of the earth near one of the stones and see a subterranean land inhabited by fairy folk.
The picture was taken looking northwards across Nine Stones Close stone circle. The four insets show each of the stones in slightly more detail, starting from the left southern stone and working around the circle in an anti-clockwise direction.
A Wild Mouse roller coaster (also Mad Mouse or Crazy Mouse) is a type of roller coaster characterized by small cars that seat four people or fewer and ride on top of the track, taking tight, flat turns (without banking) at modest speeds, yet producing high lateral G-forces. The track work is characterized by many turns and bunny hops, the latter producing abrupt negative vertical G forces. When approaching a turn from a straight section the intended impression is that one will simply continue straight, and thus plunge off of the device, this since there are no transition sections as are in a conventional high speed coaster track and the turn itself is obscured upon close approach. Almost all Wild Mice feature "switchback" sections, consisting of several of these unbanked turns, separated by straight sections. Usually the turns on the switchback section are 180°, but some coasters feature 90° turns as well as more rarely steep runs with loops (for example Crazy Mouse at Tobu Zoo in Japan, which is no longer operating). Some riders, usually among taller people, report sustaining whiplash after being subjected to these turns.
The Global Findex shows gaps in financial inclusion across demographics, with women, the poor, youth, and rural residents at the greatest disadvantage.. For more information go to: www.worldbank.org/globalfindex
The Global Findex shows 3/4 of the world’s poor do not have a bank account, not only because of poverty, but also due to costs, travel distance and paper work involved. In all regions, with the exception of high income economies, borrowing from friends and family is the most commonly
reported source of credit for current loans. For more information go to: www.worldbank.org/globalfindex
The Global Findex shows mobile banking may help historically unbanked regions gain financial access. For more information go to: www.worldbank.org/globalfindex
One of the foundational requirements for economic growth is a modern, reliable, secure banking system. For emerging economies, developing such a banking system is both a challenge and opportunity -- in many cases, large portions of their populations don't have bank accounts or use banks regularly, creating an impediment to growth and development.
McKinsey & Company reports that more there are more than a billion people in emerging nations who have cell phones but not bank accounts. These unbanked citizens are left to store and transfer money using informal networks, which often charge high transaction fees and are prone to theft or loss.
These untapped potential customers provide a huge market that can drive growth for local banks in these emerging economies, as well as for the communities and nations they serve. But it requires that these organizations invest in new technologies to enable banking services that are secure, reliable and available, and incorporate new technologies such as mobile and social applications. More and more of these financial institutions are turning to IBM to provide the technology to power and empower their banking solutions.
MasterCard has gained first-hand experience into the drivers and barriers of financial inclusion. It is technology that can break the barriers and offer unlimited potential for global economic growth, productivity and efficiency.
“108 Mantras for Financial Success” is an IIFL (India Infoline Group) initiative towards spreading financial literacy amongst the masses to help their inclusion in the economic prosperity of India. With accelerating GDP, per capita growth as well as savings, financial literacy is more relevant and important today than ever before. While the government’s emphasis on financial inclusion is to widen the reach of banking services to unbanked rural areas, we endeavor to complement the effort by helping people make the most of the available banking and financial services. Even the people who qualify as ‘banked’ population have limited understanding of how to use financial products to help enhancement of financial security, building up wealth and ensuring a comfortable life post retirement, and also how to avoid frauds and losses from unscrupulous agents and ponzi schemes.
The objective is to light a FLAME, which will ignite many a flame to remove the darkness of financial illiteracy and steer the inclusion of masses in country’s financial growth and prosperity. The book aims to get answers pertaining to your queries financial services. Full of informative investment tips, the book is simple & easy to understand with catchy visuals & interesting quotes.
Published by Times Group Books, the book is priced at Rs.125/- only & is available at all leading bookstores.
FORTUNE GLOBAL FORUM
Wednesday, November 4th, 2015
2015 FORTUNE GLOBAL FORUM
San Francisco, CA, USA
7:45–8:45 am
BREAKFAST CONCURRENTS
DIGITAL CURRENCY: THE NOW AND FUTURE OF MONEY
Cryptocurrency, blockchain, fully digital banks, Bitcoin, and other Fintech applications have huge implications for investors, governments, banks, and companies. Will these new financial tools ultimately create a financial system without a middleman? Will they bring billions of “unbanked” individuals into the global economy?
Panelists:
Brian Forde, Director of Digital Currency, MIT Media Lab
Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, Former Minister of Defence and Federal Minister of Economics and Technology, Germany
Balaji Srinivasan, Chief Executive Officer of 21, General Partner, Andreessen Horowitz
Bill Tai, Venture Capitalist and Angel Investor; Co-founder, MaiTai Global
Moderator:
Shawn Tully, Fortune
Photograph by Stuart Isett/Fortune Global Forum
FORTUNE GLOBAL FORUM
Wednesday, November 4th, 2015
2015 FORTUNE GLOBAL FORUM
San Francisco, CA, USA
7:45–8:45 am
BREAKFAST CONCURRENTS
DIGITAL CURRENCY: THE NOW AND FUTURE OF MONEY
Cryptocurrency, blockchain, fully digital banks, Bitcoin, and other Fintech applications have huge implications for investors, governments, banks, and companies. Will these new financial tools ultimately create a financial system without a middleman? Will they bring billions of “unbanked” individuals into the global economy?
Panelists:
Brian Forde, Director of Digital Currency, MIT Media Lab
Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, Former Minister of Defence and Federal Minister of Economics and Technology, Germany
Balaji Srinivasan, Chief Executive Officer of 21, General Partner, Andreessen Horowitz
Bill Tai, Venture Capitalist and Angel Investor; Co-founder, MaiTai Global
Moderator:
Shawn Tully, Fortune
Photograph by Stuart Isett/Fortune Global Forum
More than 50 percent of the Tunisian population does not have access to modern, reliable financial services and more than a quarter have no bank accounts at all. IBM cloud capabilities will help Zitouna Bank achieve its objectives to open up to 18 new branches per year, roll out of new mobile and Internet banking services, reduce waiting times for customers, and extend services to the nation's unbanked and underbanked citizens. -- Photo courtesy of Zitouna Bank and IBM
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications this afternoon called for the potential of the post office network to assume responsibility for the processing of a range of Government services to be explored.
This may include developing facilities across the 1150 post offices nationwide for the processing of motor tax renewals and hospital charges as well as water charges, property tax, business rates, rents and other Government payment services. In particular, the Committee recommends that the Post Office network be utilised as part of the Government’s financial inclusion strategy to deliver basic payment accounts to the ‘unbanked’. These recommendations are included in the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’, launched this afternoon 26 March.
The Report is based on hearings and a public consultation hosted by the Committee in 2012, with the aim of charting a sustainable future for Ireland’s post office network.
Other recommendations include that:
·the sharing of facilities with other community service providers to minimise overhead costs and maintain accessibility, given the social benefit of providing advice and face to face contact for rural communities in particular;
·the Government recognises that any successful bidder for Department of Social Protection (and, at a later date, NTMA) contracts currently held by the post office network, acknowledge and honour this social responsibility by providing as widespread and comprehensive a service as is currently provided by An Post.
·An Post clarify and make public the criteria it uses to establish the viability of post offices. In addition, An Post should introduce an ‘amber light’ warning system, which would give communities advanced warning that their post office may be vulnerable to closure and engage in consultation with communities before making any final decision regarding closures.
Committee Chairman Tom Hayes TD says: “The post office network, with its unrivalled reach across the nation, has many competitive advantages which could lead to an expansion in the products and services it provides. However, as a Committee, we believe that the Post Office is about much more than the services it provides. For many people the Post Office is the first port of call when an individual seeks to engage with one of the various organs of State. Accordingly, we have prepared this report which focuses on a number of areas which would provide the best prospect for the retention of the maximum possible number of Post Offices, of which there are currently some 1,150.
“We hope that this report would provide a roadmap for how the sector might consolidate and, indeed, how that outcome might be supported by the State. We thank both An Post and the Irish Postmasters’ Union for their attendance at public hearings in 2012 and the diverse range of interests who made submissions, from Age Action Ireland and the Senior Citizens’ Parliament to the banks and the Irish Farmers’ Association. Committee Members believe that this report makes a timely, common-sense and practical contribution to ensuring the sustainability of the post office network.”
A copy of the report, which includes wide-ranging recommendations, will be sent to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte TD.
Access a copy of the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’: bit.ly/YRnMdu
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Féin
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Tom Fleming, Independent
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Tom Hayes, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Seán Kenny, Labour
Eamonn Moloney, Labour
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fáil
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Ann Phelan, Labour
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Senators
Terry Brennan
Sean D. Barrett
Eamonn Coghlan
Paschal Mooney
Ned O’Sullivan
John Whelan
FORTUNE GLOBAL FORUM
Wednesday, November 4th, 2015
2015 FORTUNE GLOBAL FORUM
San Francisco, CA, USA
7:45–8:45 am
BREAKFAST CONCURRENTS
DIGITAL CURRENCY: THE NOW AND FUTURE OF MONEY
Cryptocurrency, blockchain, fully digital banks, Bitcoin, and other Fintech applications have huge implications for investors, governments, banks, and companies. Will these new financial tools ultimately create a financial system without a middleman? Will they bring billions of “unbanked” individuals into the global economy?
Panelists:
Brian Forde, Director of Digital Currency, MIT Media Lab
Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, Former Minister of Defence and Federal Minister of Economics and Technology, Germany
Balaji Srinivasan, Chief Executive Officer of 21, General Partner, Andreessen Horowitz
Bill Tai, Venture Capitalist and Angel Investor; Co-founder, MaiTai Global
Moderator:
Shawn Tully, Fortune
Photograph by Stuart Isett/Fortune Global Forum
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications this afternoon called for the potential of the post office network to assume responsibility for the processing of a range of Government services to be explored.
This may include developing facilities across the 1150 post offices nationwide for the processing of motor tax renewals and hospital charges as well as water charges, property tax, business rates, rents and other Government payment services. In particular, the Committee recommends that the Post Office network be utilised as part of the Government’s financial inclusion strategy to deliver basic payment accounts to the ‘unbanked’. These recommendations are included in the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’, launched this afternoon 26 March.
The Report is based on hearings and a public consultation hosted by the Committee in 2012, with the aim of charting a sustainable future for Ireland’s post office network.
Other recommendations include that:
·the sharing of facilities with other community service providers to minimise overhead costs and maintain accessibility, given the social benefit of providing advice and face to face contact for rural communities in particular;
·the Government recognises that any successful bidder for Department of Social Protection (and, at a later date, NTMA) contracts currently held by the post office network, acknowledge and honour this social responsibility by providing as widespread and comprehensive a service as is currently provided by An Post.
·An Post clarify and make public the criteria it uses to establish the viability of post offices. In addition, An Post should introduce an ‘amber light’ warning system, which would give communities advanced warning that their post office may be vulnerable to closure and engage in consultation with communities before making any final decision regarding closures.
Committee Chairman Tom Hayes TD says: “The post office network, with its unrivalled reach across the nation, has many competitive advantages which could lead to an expansion in the products and services it provides. However, as a Committee, we believe that the Post Office is about much more than the services it provides. For many people the Post Office is the first port of call when an individual seeks to engage with one of the various organs of State. Accordingly, we have prepared this report which focuses on a number of areas which would provide the best prospect for the retention of the maximum possible number of Post Offices, of which there are currently some 1,150.
“We hope that this report would provide a roadmap for how the sector might consolidate and, indeed, how that outcome might be supported by the State. We thank both An Post and the Irish Postmasters’ Union for their attendance at public hearings in 2012 and the diverse range of interests who made submissions, from Age Action Ireland and the Senior Citizens’ Parliament to the banks and the Irish Farmers’ Association. Committee Members believe that this report makes a timely, common-sense and practical contribution to ensuring the sustainability of the post office network.”
A copy of the report, which includes wide-ranging recommendations, will be sent to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte TD.
Access a copy of the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’: bit.ly/YRnMdu
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Féin
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Tom Fleming, Independent
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Tom Hayes, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Seán Kenny, Labour
Eamonn Moloney, Labour
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fáil
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Ann Phelan, Labour
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Senators
Terry Brennan
Sean D. Barrett
Eamonn Coghlan
Paschal Mooney
Ned O’Sullivan
John Whelan
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications this afternoon called for the potential of the post office network to assume responsibility for the processing of a range of Government services to be explored.
This may include developing facilities across the 1150 post offices nationwide for the processing of motor tax renewals and hospital charges as well as water charges, property tax, business rates, rents and other Government payment services. In particular, the Committee recommends that the Post Office network be utilised as part of the Government’s financial inclusion strategy to deliver basic payment accounts to the ‘unbanked’. These recommendations are included in the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’, launched this afternoon 26 March.
The Report is based on hearings and a public consultation hosted by the Committee in 2012, with the aim of charting a sustainable future for Ireland’s post office network.
Other recommendations include that:
·the sharing of facilities with other community service providers to minimise overhead costs and maintain accessibility, given the social benefit of providing advice and face to face contact for rural communities in particular;
·the Government recognises that any successful bidder for Department of Social Protection (and, at a later date, NTMA) contracts currently held by the post office network, acknowledge and honour this social responsibility by providing as widespread and comprehensive a service as is currently provided by An Post.
·An Post clarify and make public the criteria it uses to establish the viability of post offices. In addition, An Post should introduce an ‘amber light’ warning system, which would give communities advanced warning that their post office may be vulnerable to closure and engage in consultation with communities before making any final decision regarding closures.
Committee Chairman Tom Hayes TD says: “The post office network, with its unrivalled reach across the nation, has many competitive advantages which could lead to an expansion in the products and services it provides. However, as a Committee, we believe that the Post Office is about much more than the services it provides. For many people the Post Office is the first port of call when an individual seeks to engage with one of the various organs of State. Accordingly, we have prepared this report which focuses on a number of areas which would provide the best prospect for the retention of the maximum possible number of Post Offices, of which there are currently some 1,150.
“We hope that this report would provide a roadmap for how the sector might consolidate and, indeed, how that outcome might be supported by the State. We thank both An Post and the Irish Postmasters’ Union for their attendance at public hearings in 2012 and the diverse range of interests who made submissions, from Age Action Ireland and the Senior Citizens’ Parliament to the banks and the Irish Farmers’ Association. Committee Members believe that this report makes a timely, common-sense and practical contribution to ensuring the sustainability of the post office network.”
A copy of the report, which includes wide-ranging recommendations, will be sent to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte TD.
Access a copy of the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’: bit.ly/YRnMdu
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Féin
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Tom Fleming, Independent
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Tom Hayes, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Seán Kenny, Labour
Eamonn Moloney, Labour
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fáil
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Ann Phelan, Labour
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Senators
Terry Brennan
Sean D. Barrett
Eamonn Coghlan
Paschal Mooney
Ned O’Sullivan
John Whelan
Hometown boy, Bill Cummings, who, according to NY sports writer, Bob Considine, grew up "so close to the (Indianapolis 500) oval that he was practically raised on carbon monoxide and the chuff-chuff of an exhaust pipe...."
Considine goes on to say that "like all others, he worked out his apprenticeship on the county fair tracks, with bear grease on unbanked turns, and driving a car held together by with wire and mucilage. Sometimes he went through a fence and somehow lived through the grinding, bone-breaking crash. Sometimes he won. Sometimes he ate well, but for the most part he wasn't as well off as a pretty good garage mechanic. For they get paid regularly."
"But he learned a lot. He picked up at least the scent of heavy dough, and it stirred the juices of his ambition. To make up for his bad mounts he substituted a nerveless form of daring that gained him is nickname Wild Bill. He won more and more races, lured on by the prospect of big dough, and at last he made the long jump from the dirt to the lumpy Indianapolis track that is the big league of racing. He couldn't miss now."
Cummings, whose day job included being an errand boy and running a small night club, finished 5th in his first Indy 500 race in 1930 and finally won four years later.
According to an AP story that ran after his big win, "135,000 spectators sat under a scorching sun to give thunderous salute to Wild Bill Cummings, 28-year-old Indianapolis driver, as he triumphed over Mauri Rose of Dayton, O., in a dramatic, thrilling finish with only 27 seconds separating them."
"Never worse than fourth, and coming from behind in the last 75 miles Cummings conquered Rose by about a mile.... Driving every inch of the way without relief, Cummings piloted is 4-cylinder little racer, painted a light cream color with a big yellow no. 7 on the rear and engine hood, over the perilous 500 miles in 4:46:05.21 to average 104.865 miles an hour, breaking the record of 104.162 miles an hour hung up by Louis Meyer...."
Considine's column concludes that, "he earned about $50,000 for that afternoon, and much more than that when he cashed in on his new fame. The big car companies signed him to extoll the merits of their cars. The accessory companies paid for his stamp of approval. The jerk-down tracks that once paid him off in hot dogs, now gave him good guarantees to appear."
"But with the coming of that dough he got a little soft. With money in the bank, the utter insanity of driving a car 140 miles an hour through an opening the size of a door began to occur to him. The 'hungrier,' more desperate men began to pass him, even on the turns. And the glamor (sic) peeled off him. In a little while he was broke again, and for the first time he knew doubt."
"When at last he hit bottom he started back. The 'hungry' pangs got to him again. His reflexes, dulled by success, grew razor sharp again. He fought for every inch of his races, coaxed his cars up to the winning crest of the pack, and more often than not had the thing blow up beneath him."
"The Alpha (sic) Romeo (that he was having built in Italy) was to have been his reward for that comeback. The Alpha probably was on his mind the night his prosaic passenger car slushed into a muddy road shoulder, turned over, knocked him out, and threw him face downward in a creek."
Cummings was driving on State Road 29 when his car hit a guard rail and plunged 50 feet into Lick Creek. Passersby saw the accident and pulled him out of the wreck alive, but he succumbed to his injuries two days later.
As for his career at the Indianapolis 500, he ran the race every year from 1930-1938, was in the top 10 five times and had to retire due to mechanical problems the other four times. The Alfa might have added to Cummings' good fortune, but he died in February 1939, just three months before that year's Indy race and his next big chance for victory.
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications this afternoon called for the potential of the post office network to assume responsibility for the processing of a range of Government services to be explored.
This may include developing facilities across the 1150 post offices nationwide for the processing of motor tax renewals and hospital charges as well as water charges, property tax, business rates, rents and other Government payment services. In particular, the Committee recommends that the Post Office network be utilised as part of the Government’s financial inclusion strategy to deliver basic payment accounts to the ‘unbanked’. These recommendations are included in the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’, launched this afternoon 26 March.
The Report is based on hearings and a public consultation hosted by the Committee in 2012, with the aim of charting a sustainable future for Ireland’s post office network.
Other recommendations include that:
·the sharing of facilities with other community service providers to minimise overhead costs and maintain accessibility, given the social benefit of providing advice and face to face contact for rural communities in particular;
·the Government recognises that any successful bidder for Department of Social Protection (and, at a later date, NTMA) contracts currently held by the post office network, acknowledge and honour this social responsibility by providing as widespread and comprehensive a service as is currently provided by An Post.
·An Post clarify and make public the criteria it uses to establish the viability of post offices. In addition, An Post should introduce an ‘amber light’ warning system, which would give communities advanced warning that their post office may be vulnerable to closure and engage in consultation with communities before making any final decision regarding closures.
Committee Chairman Tom Hayes TD says: “The post office network, with its unrivalled reach across the nation, has many competitive advantages which could lead to an expansion in the products and services it provides. However, as a Committee, we believe that the Post Office is about much more than the services it provides. For many people the Post Office is the first port of call when an individual seeks to engage with one of the various organs of State. Accordingly, we have prepared this report which focuses on a number of areas which would provide the best prospect for the retention of the maximum possible number of Post Offices, of which there are currently some 1,150.
“We hope that this report would provide a roadmap for how the sector might consolidate and, indeed, how that outcome might be supported by the State. We thank both An Post and the Irish Postmasters’ Union for their attendance at public hearings in 2012 and the diverse range of interests who made submissions, from Age Action Ireland and the Senior Citizens’ Parliament to the banks and the Irish Farmers’ Association. Committee Members believe that this report makes a timely, common-sense and practical contribution to ensuring the sustainability of the post office network.”
A copy of the report, which includes wide-ranging recommendations, will be sent to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte TD.
Access a copy of the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’: bit.ly/YRnMdu
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Féin
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Tom Fleming, Independent
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Tom Hayes, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Seán Kenny, Labour
Eamonn Moloney, Labour
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fáil
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Ann Phelan, Labour
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Senators
Terry Brennan
Sean D. Barrett
Eamonn Coghlan
Paschal Mooney
Ned O’Sullivan
John Whelan
FORTUNE GLOBAL FORUM
Wednesday, November 4th, 2015
2015 FORTUNE GLOBAL FORUM
San Francisco, CA, USA
7:45–8:45 am
BREAKFAST CONCURRENTS
DIGITAL CURRENCY: THE NOW AND FUTURE OF MONEY
Cryptocurrency, blockchain, fully digital banks, Bitcoin, and other Fintech applications have huge implications for investors, governments, banks, and companies. Will these new financial tools ultimately create a financial system without a middleman? Will they bring billions of “unbanked” individuals into the global economy?
Panelists:
Brian Forde, Director of Digital Currency, MIT Media Lab
Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, Former Minister of Defence and Federal Minister of Economics and Technology, Germany
Balaji Srinivasan, Chief Executive Officer of 21, General Partner, Andreessen Horowitz
Bill Tai, Venture Capitalist and Angel Investor; Co-founder, MaiTai Global
Moderator:
Shawn Tully, Fortune
Photograph by Stuart Isett/Fortune Global Forum
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications this afternoon called for the potential of the post office network to assume responsibility for the processing of a range of Government services to be explored.
This may include developing facilities across the 1150 post offices nationwide for the processing of motor tax renewals and hospital charges as well as water charges, property tax, business rates, rents and other Government payment services. In particular, the Committee recommends that the Post Office network be utilised as part of the Government’s financial inclusion strategy to deliver basic payment accounts to the ‘unbanked’. These recommendations are included in the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’, launched this afternoon 26 March.
The Report is based on hearings and a public consultation hosted by the Committee in 2012, with the aim of charting a sustainable future for Ireland’s post office network.
Other recommendations include that:
·the sharing of facilities with other community service providers to minimise overhead costs and maintain accessibility, given the social benefit of providing advice and face to face contact for rural communities in particular;
·the Government recognises that any successful bidder for Department of Social Protection (and, at a later date, NTMA) contracts currently held by the post office network, acknowledge and honour this social responsibility by providing as widespread and comprehensive a service as is currently provided by An Post.
·An Post clarify and make public the criteria it uses to establish the viability of post offices. In addition, An Post should introduce an ‘amber light’ warning system, which would give communities advanced warning that their post office may be vulnerable to closure and engage in consultation with communities before making any final decision regarding closures.
Committee Chairman Tom Hayes TD says: “The post office network, with its unrivalled reach across the nation, has many competitive advantages which could lead to an expansion in the products and services it provides. However, as a Committee, we believe that the Post Office is about much more than the services it provides. For many people the Post Office is the first port of call when an individual seeks to engage with one of the various organs of State. Accordingly, we have prepared this report which focuses on a number of areas which would provide the best prospect for the retention of the maximum possible number of Post Offices, of which there are currently some 1,150.
“We hope that this report would provide a roadmap for how the sector might consolidate and, indeed, how that outcome might be supported by the State. We thank both An Post and the Irish Postmasters’ Union for their attendance at public hearings in 2012 and the diverse range of interests who made submissions, from Age Action Ireland and the Senior Citizens’ Parliament to the banks and the Irish Farmers’ Association. Committee Members believe that this report makes a timely, common-sense and practical contribution to ensuring the sustainability of the post office network.”
A copy of the report, which includes wide-ranging recommendations, will be sent to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte TD.
Access a copy of the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’: bit.ly/YRnMdu
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Féin
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Tom Fleming, Independent
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Tom Hayes, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Seán Kenny, Labour
Eamonn Moloney, Labour
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fáil
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Ann Phelan, Labour
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Senators
Terry Brennan
Sean D. Barrett
Eamonn Coghlan
Paschal Mooney
Ned O’Sullivan
John Whelan
Small Group Discussion: From Access to Assets: Increasing Women’s Financial Opportunities
According to the World Bank’s Global Findex report, the number of unbanked individuals around the world dropped by 20 percent between 2011 and 2014, driven in part by the proliferation of mobile technology. Despite this progress, the gender gap stubbornly persists: globally, seven percent fewer women access formal financial institutions than men. This means that worldwide, more than 1 billion women are still unbanked—and many women who do own a bank account do not actively use their accounts or fully leverage financial services for sustainable asset building. The gender gap is even greater in some regions, such as South Asia where it is nearly 20 percent.
In this session, participants will:
• Share data and metrics that can help stakeholders understand how effectively they are serving women, and what barriers remain.
• Discuss how financial service providers can partner with organizations, from NGOs to telecommunications companies, to better support women—whether they are entrepreneurs, smallholder farmers, or consumers.
• Share common challenges and effective mechanisms to address and narrow the financial inclusion gender gap.
PARTICIPANTS:
Tilman Ehrbeck, Partner, Omidyar Network
MasterCard Advisors identifies two key principles for advancing financial inclusion. 1) Consumers’ most basic financial needs must be addressed first, and 2) the focus must be on both providing access to and driving usage of financial products.
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications this afternoon called for the potential of the post office network to assume responsibility for the processing of a range of Government services to be explored.
This may include developing facilities across the 1150 post offices nationwide for the processing of motor tax renewals and hospital charges as well as water charges, property tax, business rates, rents and other Government payment services. In particular, the Committee recommends that the Post Office network be utilised as part of the Government’s financial inclusion strategy to deliver basic payment accounts to the ‘unbanked’. These recommendations are included in the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’, launched this afternoon 26 March.
The Report is based on hearings and a public consultation hosted by the Committee in 2012, with the aim of charting a sustainable future for Ireland’s post office network.
Other recommendations include that:
·the sharing of facilities with other community service providers to minimise overhead costs and maintain accessibility, given the social benefit of providing advice and face to face contact for rural communities in particular;
·the Government recognises that any successful bidder for Department of Social Protection (and, at a later date, NTMA) contracts currently held by the post office network, acknowledge and honour this social responsibility by providing as widespread and comprehensive a service as is currently provided by An Post.
·An Post clarify and make public the criteria it uses to establish the viability of post offices. In addition, An Post should introduce an ‘amber light’ warning system, which would give communities advanced warning that their post office may be vulnerable to closure and engage in consultation with communities before making any final decision regarding closures.
Committee Chairman Tom Hayes TD says: “The post office network, with its unrivalled reach across the nation, has many competitive advantages which could lead to an expansion in the products and services it provides. However, as a Committee, we believe that the Post Office is about much more than the services it provides. For many people the Post Office is the first port of call when an individual seeks to engage with one of the various organs of State. Accordingly, we have prepared this report which focuses on a number of areas which would provide the best prospect for the retention of the maximum possible number of Post Offices, of which there are currently some 1,150.
“We hope that this report would provide a roadmap for how the sector might consolidate and, indeed, how that outcome might be supported by the State. We thank both An Post and the Irish Postmasters’ Union for their attendance at public hearings in 2012 and the diverse range of interests who made submissions, from Age Action Ireland and the Senior Citizens’ Parliament to the banks and the Irish Farmers’ Association. Committee Members believe that this report makes a timely, common-sense and practical contribution to ensuring the sustainability of the post office network.”
A copy of the report, which includes wide-ranging recommendations, will be sent to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte TD.
Access a copy of the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’: bit.ly/YRnMdu
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Féin
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Tom Fleming, Independent
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Tom Hayes, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Seán Kenny, Labour
Eamonn Moloney, Labour
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fáil
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Ann Phelan, Labour
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Senators
Terry Brennan
Sean D. Barrett
Eamonn Coghlan
Paschal Mooney
Ned O’Sullivan
John Whelan
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications this afternoon called for the potential of the post office network to assume responsibility for the processing of a range of Government services to be explored.
This may include developing facilities across the 1150 post offices nationwide for the processing of motor tax renewals and hospital charges as well as water charges, property tax, business rates, rents and other Government payment services. In particular, the Committee recommends that the Post Office network be utilised as part of the Government’s financial inclusion strategy to deliver basic payment accounts to the ‘unbanked’. These recommendations are included in the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’, launched this afternoon 26 March.
The Report is based on hearings and a public consultation hosted by the Committee in 2012, with the aim of charting a sustainable future for Ireland’s post office network.
Other recommendations include that:
·the sharing of facilities with other community service providers to minimise overhead costs and maintain accessibility, given the social benefit of providing advice and face to face contact for rural communities in particular;
·the Government recognises that any successful bidder for Department of Social Protection (and, at a later date, NTMA) contracts currently held by the post office network, acknowledge and honour this social responsibility by providing as widespread and comprehensive a service as is currently provided by An Post.
·An Post clarify and make public the criteria it uses to establish the viability of post offices. In addition, An Post should introduce an ‘amber light’ warning system, which would give communities advanced warning that their post office may be vulnerable to closure and engage in consultation with communities before making any final decision regarding closures.
Committee Chairman Tom Hayes TD says: “The post office network, with its unrivalled reach across the nation, has many competitive advantages which could lead to an expansion in the products and services it provides. However, as a Committee, we believe that the Post Office is about much more than the services it provides. For many people the Post Office is the first port of call when an individual seeks to engage with one of the various organs of State. Accordingly, we have prepared this report which focuses on a number of areas which would provide the best prospect for the retention of the maximum possible number of Post Offices, of which there are currently some 1,150.
“We hope that this report would provide a roadmap for how the sector might consolidate and, indeed, how that outcome might be supported by the State. We thank both An Post and the Irish Postmasters’ Union for their attendance at public hearings in 2012 and the diverse range of interests who made submissions, from Age Action Ireland and the Senior Citizens’ Parliament to the banks and the Irish Farmers’ Association. Committee Members believe that this report makes a timely, common-sense and practical contribution to ensuring the sustainability of the post office network.”
A copy of the report, which includes wide-ranging recommendations, will be sent to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte TD.
Access a copy of the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’: bit.ly/YRnMdu
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Féin
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Tom Fleming, Independent
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Tom Hayes, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Seán Kenny, Labour
Eamonn Moloney, Labour
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fáil
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Ann Phelan, Labour
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Senators
Terry Brennan
Sean D. Barrett
Eamonn Coghlan
Paschal Mooney
Ned O’Sullivan
John Whelan
2.5 billion adults lack access to formal financial services. Making and receiving basic payments can be the on-ramp to more complex financial products such as loans or insurance that in turn provide greater empowerment. Public-private partnerships are instrumental in building an ecosystem that enables greater financial inclusion.
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications this afternoon called for the potential of the post office network to assume responsibility for the processing of a range of Government services to be explored.
This may include developing facilities across the 1150 post offices nationwide for the processing of motor tax renewals and hospital charges as well as water charges, property tax, business rates, rents and other Government payment services. In particular, the Committee recommends that the Post Office network be utilised as part of the Government’s financial inclusion strategy to deliver basic payment accounts to the ‘unbanked’. These recommendations are included in the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’, launched this afternoon 26 March.
The Report is based on hearings and a public consultation hosted by the Committee in 2012, with the aim of charting a sustainable future for Ireland’s post office network.
Other recommendations include that:
·the sharing of facilities with other community service providers to minimise overhead costs and maintain accessibility, given the social benefit of providing advice and face to face contact for rural communities in particular;
·the Government recognises that any successful bidder for Department of Social Protection (and, at a later date, NTMA) contracts currently held by the post office network, acknowledge and honour this social responsibility by providing as widespread and comprehensive a service as is currently provided by An Post.
·An Post clarify and make public the criteria it uses to establish the viability of post offices. In addition, An Post should introduce an ‘amber light’ warning system, which would give communities advanced warning that their post office may be vulnerable to closure and engage in consultation with communities before making any final decision regarding closures.
Committee Chairman Tom Hayes TD says: “The post office network, with its unrivalled reach across the nation, has many competitive advantages which could lead to an expansion in the products and services it provides. However, as a Committee, we believe that the Post Office is about much more than the services it provides. For many people the Post Office is the first port of call when an individual seeks to engage with one of the various organs of State. Accordingly, we have prepared this report which focuses on a number of areas which would provide the best prospect for the retention of the maximum possible number of Post Offices, of which there are currently some 1,150.
“We hope that this report would provide a roadmap for how the sector might consolidate and, indeed, how that outcome might be supported by the State. We thank both An Post and the Irish Postmasters’ Union for their attendance at public hearings in 2012 and the diverse range of interests who made submissions, from Age Action Ireland and the Senior Citizens’ Parliament to the banks and the Irish Farmers’ Association. Committee Members believe that this report makes a timely, common-sense and practical contribution to ensuring the sustainability of the post office network.”
A copy of the report, which includes wide-ranging recommendations, will be sent to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte TD.
Access a copy of the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’: bit.ly/YRnMdu
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Féin
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Tom Fleming, Independent
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Tom Hayes, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Seán Kenny, Labour
Eamonn Moloney, Labour
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fáil
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Ann Phelan, Labour
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Senators
Terry Brennan
Sean D. Barrett
Eamonn Coghlan
Paschal Mooney
Ned O’Sullivan
John Whelan
2:15 PM: Working Group 1- Financial Inclusion: Market Access
Hosted by Teneo
Topics covered: Banking the poor, market access, micro-credit(including lending to women), digital finance and mobile payments,supporting workforce/employee financial education
“It is increasingly intolerable that financial markets are shaping the destiny of people rather than serving their needs,” says Pope Francis. More than 2 billion adults in emerging economies do not have access to basic checking or savings accounts, with women, the rural poor, and informal micro businesses more financially excluded than others. Refugees fleeing violence cannot begin to rebuild their lives without access to banking. Digital financial technology (“fintech”) and the spread of mobilephones have been transformative in expanding financial services access to hard-to-reach populations and micro enterprises. Still,there remain obstacles to achieving the World Bank’s goal of Universal Financial Access (UFA) by 2020. Among these are the ongoing challenges of servicing hard-to-reach populations, a lack of financial literacy to foster an understanding of products and services, a shortage of accessible tools to authenticate identity, and specific obstacles for women.
What bold action can business leaders take to bring marginalized, “unbanked” communities online and into the global economy, thereby enabling billions to share in the world’s prosperity? How can the private sector encourage the widespread production of mobile and digital infrastructures that will enable individuals to bank online and connect to virtual economies? What can companies do to promote financial literacy and access among employees and within the communities in which they operate?
Subject Expert:
Michael Porter, Bishop William Lawrence University Professor, Harvard Business School
Co-chairs:
Roger Ferguson, President and CEO, TIAA
Jes Staley, Group CEO, Barclays
Moderator:
Alan Murray, Editor-in-Chief, Fortune; Chief Content Officer, Time Inc.
Photograph by David Yoder/Fortune Global Forum
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications this afternoon called for the potential of the post office network to assume responsibility for the processing of a range of Government services to be explored.
This may include developing facilities across the 1150 post offices nationwide for the processing of motor tax renewals and hospital charges as well as water charges, property tax, business rates, rents and other Government payment services. In particular, the Committee recommends that the Post Office network be utilised as part of the Government’s financial inclusion strategy to deliver basic payment accounts to the ‘unbanked’. These recommendations are included in the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’, launched this afternoon 26 March.
The Report is based on hearings and a public consultation hosted by the Committee in 2012, with the aim of charting a sustainable future for Ireland’s post office network.
Other recommendations include that:
·the sharing of facilities with other community service providers to minimise overhead costs and maintain accessibility, given the social benefit of providing advice and face to face contact for rural communities in particular;
·the Government recognises that any successful bidder for Department of Social Protection (and, at a later date, NTMA) contracts currently held by the post office network, acknowledge and honour this social responsibility by providing as widespread and comprehensive a service as is currently provided by An Post.
·An Post clarify and make public the criteria it uses to establish the viability of post offices. In addition, An Post should introduce an ‘amber light’ warning system, which would give communities advanced warning that their post office may be vulnerable to closure and engage in consultation with communities before making any final decision regarding closures.
Committee Chairman Tom Hayes TD says: “The post office network, with its unrivalled reach across the nation, has many competitive advantages which could lead to an expansion in the products and services it provides. However, as a Committee, we believe that the Post Office is about much more than the services it provides. For many people the Post Office is the first port of call when an individual seeks to engage with one of the various organs of State. Accordingly, we have prepared this report which focuses on a number of areas which would provide the best prospect for the retention of the maximum possible number of Post Offices, of which there are currently some 1,150.
“We hope that this report would provide a roadmap for how the sector might consolidate and, indeed, how that outcome might be supported by the State. We thank both An Post and the Irish Postmasters’ Union for their attendance at public hearings in 2012 and the diverse range of interests who made submissions, from Age Action Ireland and the Senior Citizens’ Parliament to the banks and the Irish Farmers’ Association. Committee Members believe that this report makes a timely, common-sense and practical contribution to ensuring the sustainability of the post office network.”
A copy of the report, which includes wide-ranging recommendations, will be sent to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte TD.
Access a copy of the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’: bit.ly/YRnMdu
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Féin
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Tom Fleming, Independent
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Tom Hayes, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Seán Kenny, Labour
Eamonn Moloney, Labour
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fáil
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Ann Phelan, Labour
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Senators
Terry Brennan
Sean D. Barrett
Eamonn Coghlan
Paschal Mooney
Ned O’Sullivan
John Whelan
FORTUNE GLOBAL FORUM
Wednesday, November 4th, 2015
2015 FORTUNE GLOBAL FORUM
San Francisco, CA, USA
7:45–8:45 am
BREAKFAST CONCURRENTS
DIGITAL CURRENCY: THE NOW AND FUTURE OF MONEY
Cryptocurrency, blockchain, fully digital banks, Bitcoin, and other Fintech applications have huge implications for investors, governments, banks, and companies. Will these new financial tools ultimately create a financial system without a middleman? Will they bring billions of “unbanked” individuals into the global economy?
Panelists:
Brian Forde, Director of Digital Currency, MIT Media Lab
Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, Former Minister of Defence and Federal Minister of Economics and Technology, Germany
Balaji Srinivasan, Chief Executive Officer of 21, General Partner, Andreessen Horowitz
Bill Tai, Venture Capitalist and Angel Investor; Co-founder, MaiTai Global
Moderator:
Shawn Tully, Fortune
Photograph by Stuart Isett/Fortune Global Forum
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications this afternoon called for the potential of the post office network to assume responsibility for the processing of a range of Government services to be explored.
This may include developing facilities across the 1150 post offices nationwide for the processing of motor tax renewals and hospital charges as well as water charges, property tax, business rates, rents and other Government payment services. In particular, the Committee recommends that the Post Office network be utilised as part of the Government’s financial inclusion strategy to deliver basic payment accounts to the ‘unbanked’. These recommendations are included in the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’, launched this afternoon 26 March.
The Report is based on hearings and a public consultation hosted by the Committee in 2012, with the aim of charting a sustainable future for Ireland’s post office network.
Other recommendations include that:
·the sharing of facilities with other community service providers to minimise overhead costs and maintain accessibility, given the social benefit of providing advice and face to face contact for rural communities in particular;
·the Government recognises that any successful bidder for Department of Social Protection (and, at a later date, NTMA) contracts currently held by the post office network, acknowledge and honour this social responsibility by providing as widespread and comprehensive a service as is currently provided by An Post.
·An Post clarify and make public the criteria it uses to establish the viability of post offices. In addition, An Post should introduce an ‘amber light’ warning system, which would give communities advanced warning that their post office may be vulnerable to closure and engage in consultation with communities before making any final decision regarding closures.
Committee Chairman Tom Hayes TD says: “The post office network, with its unrivalled reach across the nation, has many competitive advantages which could lead to an expansion in the products and services it provides. However, as a Committee, we believe that the Post Office is about much more than the services it provides. For many people the Post Office is the first port of call when an individual seeks to engage with one of the various organs of State. Accordingly, we have prepared this report which focuses on a number of areas which would provide the best prospect for the retention of the maximum possible number of Post Offices, of which there are currently some 1,150.
“We hope that this report would provide a roadmap for how the sector might consolidate and, indeed, how that outcome might be supported by the State. We thank both An Post and the Irish Postmasters’ Union for their attendance at public hearings in 2012 and the diverse range of interests who made submissions, from Age Action Ireland and the Senior Citizens’ Parliament to the banks and the Irish Farmers’ Association. Committee Members believe that this report makes a timely, common-sense and practical contribution to ensuring the sustainability of the post office network.”
A copy of the report, which includes wide-ranging recommendations, will be sent to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte TD.
Access a copy of the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’: bit.ly/YRnMdu
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Féin
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Tom Fleming, Independent
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Tom Hayes, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Seán Kenny, Labour
Eamonn Moloney, Labour
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fáil
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Ann Phelan, Labour
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Senators
Terry Brennan
Sean D. Barrett
Eamonn Coghlan
Paschal Mooney
Ned O’Sullivan
John Whelan
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications this afternoon called for the potential of the post office network to assume responsibility for the processing of a range of Government services to be explored.
This may include developing facilities across the 1150 post offices nationwide for the processing of motor tax renewals and hospital charges as well as water charges, property tax, business rates, rents and other Government payment services. In particular, the Committee recommends that the Post Office network be utilised as part of the Government’s financial inclusion strategy to deliver basic payment accounts to the ‘unbanked’. These recommendations are included in the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’, launched this afternoon 26 March.
The Report is based on hearings and a public consultation hosted by the Committee in 2012, with the aim of charting a sustainable future for Ireland’s post office network.
Other recommendations include that:
·the sharing of facilities with other community service providers to minimise overhead costs and maintain accessibility, given the social benefit of providing advice and face to face contact for rural communities in particular;
·the Government recognises that any successful bidder for Department of Social Protection (and, at a later date, NTMA) contracts currently held by the post office network, acknowledge and honour this social responsibility by providing as widespread and comprehensive a service as is currently provided by An Post.
·An Post clarify and make public the criteria it uses to establish the viability of post offices. In addition, An Post should introduce an ‘amber light’ warning system, which would give communities advanced warning that their post office may be vulnerable to closure and engage in consultation with communities before making any final decision regarding closures.
Committee Chairman Tom Hayes TD says: “The post office network, with its unrivalled reach across the nation, has many competitive advantages which could lead to an expansion in the products and services it provides. However, as a Committee, we believe that the Post Office is about much more than the services it provides. For many people the Post Office is the first port of call when an individual seeks to engage with one of the various organs of State. Accordingly, we have prepared this report which focuses on a number of areas which would provide the best prospect for the retention of the maximum possible number of Post Offices, of which there are currently some 1,150.
“We hope that this report would provide a roadmap for how the sector might consolidate and, indeed, how that outcome might be supported by the State. We thank both An Post and the Irish Postmasters’ Union for their attendance at public hearings in 2012 and the diverse range of interests who made submissions, from Age Action Ireland and the Senior Citizens’ Parliament to the banks and the Irish Farmers’ Association. Committee Members believe that this report makes a timely, common-sense and practical contribution to ensuring the sustainability of the post office network.”
A copy of the report, which includes wide-ranging recommendations, will be sent to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte TD.
Access a copy of the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’: bit.ly/YRnMdu
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Féin
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Tom Fleming, Independent
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Tom Hayes, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Seán Kenny, Labour
Eamonn Moloney, Labour
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fáil
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Ann Phelan, Labour
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Senators
Terry Brennan
Sean D. Barrett
Eamonn Coghlan
Paschal Mooney
Ned O’Sullivan
John Whelan
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications this afternoon called for the potential of the post office network to assume responsibility for the processing of a range of Government services to be explored.
This may include developing facilities across the 1150 post offices nationwide for the processing of motor tax renewals and hospital charges as well as water charges, property tax, business rates, rents and other Government payment services. In particular, the Committee recommends that the Post Office network be utilised as part of the Government’s financial inclusion strategy to deliver basic payment accounts to the ‘unbanked’. These recommendations are included in the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’, launched this afternoon 26 March.
The Report is based on hearings and a public consultation hosted by the Committee in 2012, with the aim of charting a sustainable future for Ireland’s post office network.
Other recommendations include that:
·the sharing of facilities with other community service providers to minimise overhead costs and maintain accessibility, given the social benefit of providing advice and face to face contact for rural communities in particular;
·the Government recognises that any successful bidder for Department of Social Protection (and, at a later date, NTMA) contracts currently held by the post office network, acknowledge and honour this social responsibility by providing as widespread and comprehensive a service as is currently provided by An Post.
·An Post clarify and make public the criteria it uses to establish the viability of post offices. In addition, An Post should introduce an ‘amber light’ warning system, which would give communities advanced warning that their post office may be vulnerable to closure and engage in consultation with communities before making any final decision regarding closures.
Committee Chairman Tom Hayes TD says: “The post office network, with its unrivalled reach across the nation, has many competitive advantages which could lead to an expansion in the products and services it provides. However, as a Committee, we believe that the Post Office is about much more than the services it provides. For many people the Post Office is the first port of call when an individual seeks to engage with one of the various organs of State. Accordingly, we have prepared this report which focuses on a number of areas which would provide the best prospect for the retention of the maximum possible number of Post Offices, of which there are currently some 1,150.
“We hope that this report would provide a roadmap for how the sector might consolidate and, indeed, how that outcome might be supported by the State. We thank both An Post and the Irish Postmasters’ Union for their attendance at public hearings in 2012 and the diverse range of interests who made submissions, from Age Action Ireland and the Senior Citizens’ Parliament to the banks and the Irish Farmers’ Association. Committee Members believe that this report makes a timely, common-sense and practical contribution to ensuring the sustainability of the post office network.”
A copy of the report, which includes wide-ranging recommendations, will be sent to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte TD.
Access a copy of the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’: bit.ly/YRnMdu
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Féin
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Tom Fleming, Independent
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Tom Hayes, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Seán Kenny, Labour
Eamonn Moloney, Labour
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fáil
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Ann Phelan, Labour
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Senators
Terry Brennan
Sean D. Barrett
Eamonn Coghlan
Paschal Mooney
Ned O’Sullivan
John Whelan
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications this afternoon called for the potential of the post office network to assume responsibility for the processing of a range of Government services to be explored.
This may include developing facilities across the 1150 post offices nationwide for the processing of motor tax renewals and hospital charges as well as water charges, property tax, business rates, rents and other Government payment services. In particular, the Committee recommends that the Post Office network be utilised as part of the Government’s financial inclusion strategy to deliver basic payment accounts to the ‘unbanked’. These recommendations are included in the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’, launched this afternoon 26 March.
The Report is based on hearings and a public consultation hosted by the Committee in 2012, with the aim of charting a sustainable future for Ireland’s post office network.
Other recommendations include that:
·the sharing of facilities with other community service providers to minimise overhead costs and maintain accessibility, given the social benefit of providing advice and face to face contact for rural communities in particular;
·the Government recognises that any successful bidder for Department of Social Protection (and, at a later date, NTMA) contracts currently held by the post office network, acknowledge and honour this social responsibility by providing as widespread and comprehensive a service as is currently provided by An Post.
·An Post clarify and make public the criteria it uses to establish the viability of post offices. In addition, An Post should introduce an ‘amber light’ warning system, which would give communities advanced warning that their post office may be vulnerable to closure and engage in consultation with communities before making any final decision regarding closures.
Committee Chairman Tom Hayes TD says: “The post office network, with its unrivalled reach across the nation, has many competitive advantages which could lead to an expansion in the products and services it provides. However, as a Committee, we believe that the Post Office is about much more than the services it provides. For many people the Post Office is the first port of call when an individual seeks to engage with one of the various organs of State. Accordingly, we have prepared this report which focuses on a number of areas which would provide the best prospect for the retention of the maximum possible number of Post Offices, of which there are currently some 1,150.
“We hope that this report would provide a roadmap for how the sector might consolidate and, indeed, how that outcome might be supported by the State. We thank both An Post and the Irish Postmasters’ Union for their attendance at public hearings in 2012 and the diverse range of interests who made submissions, from Age Action Ireland and the Senior Citizens’ Parliament to the banks and the Irish Farmers’ Association. Committee Members believe that this report makes a timely, common-sense and practical contribution to ensuring the sustainability of the post office network.”
A copy of the report, which includes wide-ranging recommendations, will be sent to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte TD.
Access a copy of the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’: bit.ly/YRnMdu
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Féin
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Tom Fleming, Independent
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Tom Hayes, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Seán Kenny, Labour
Eamonn Moloney, Labour
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fáil
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Ann Phelan, Labour
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Senators
Terry Brennan
Sean D. Barrett
Eamonn Coghlan
Paschal Mooney
Ned O’Sullivan
John Whelan
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications this afternoon called for the potential of the post office network to assume responsibility for the processing of a range of Government services to be explored.
This may include developing facilities across the 1150 post offices nationwide for the processing of motor tax renewals and hospital charges as well as water charges, property tax, business rates, rents and other Government payment services. In particular, the Committee recommends that the Post Office network be utilised as part of the Government’s financial inclusion strategy to deliver basic payment accounts to the ‘unbanked’. These recommendations are included in the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’, launched this afternoon 26 March.
The Report is based on hearings and a public consultation hosted by the Committee in 2012, with the aim of charting a sustainable future for Ireland’s post office network.
Other recommendations include that:
·the sharing of facilities with other community service providers to minimise overhead costs and maintain accessibility, given the social benefit of providing advice and face to face contact for rural communities in particular;
·the Government recognises that any successful bidder for Department of Social Protection (and, at a later date, NTMA) contracts currently held by the post office network, acknowledge and honour this social responsibility by providing as widespread and comprehensive a service as is currently provided by An Post.
·An Post clarify and make public the criteria it uses to establish the viability of post offices. In addition, An Post should introduce an ‘amber light’ warning system, which would give communities advanced warning that their post office may be vulnerable to closure and engage in consultation with communities before making any final decision regarding closures.
Committee Chairman Tom Hayes TD says: “The post office network, with its unrivalled reach across the nation, has many competitive advantages which could lead to an expansion in the products and services it provides. However, as a Committee, we believe that the Post Office is about much more than the services it provides. For many people the Post Office is the first port of call when an individual seeks to engage with one of the various organs of State. Accordingly, we have prepared this report which focuses on a number of areas which would provide the best prospect for the retention of the maximum possible number of Post Offices, of which there are currently some 1,150.
“We hope that this report would provide a roadmap for how the sector might consolidate and, indeed, how that outcome might be supported by the State. We thank both An Post and the Irish Postmasters’ Union for their attendance at public hearings in 2012 and the diverse range of interests who made submissions, from Age Action Ireland and the Senior Citizens’ Parliament to the banks and the Irish Farmers’ Association. Committee Members believe that this report makes a timely, common-sense and practical contribution to ensuring the sustainability of the post office network.”
A copy of the report, which includes wide-ranging recommendations, will be sent to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte TD.
Access a copy of the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’: bit.ly/YRnMdu
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Féin
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Tom Fleming, Independent
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Tom Hayes, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Seán Kenny, Labour
Eamonn Moloney, Labour
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fáil
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Ann Phelan, Labour
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Senators
Terry Brennan
Sean D. Barrett
Eamonn Coghlan
Paschal Mooney
Ned O’Sullivan
John Whelan
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications this afternoon called for the potential of the post office network to assume responsibility for the processing of a range of Government services to be explored.
This may include developing facilities across the 1150 post offices nationwide for the processing of motor tax renewals and hospital charges as well as water charges, property tax, business rates, rents and other Government payment services. In particular, the Committee recommends that the Post Office network be utilised as part of the Government’s financial inclusion strategy to deliver basic payment accounts to the ‘unbanked’. These recommendations are included in the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’, launched this afternoon 26 March.
The Report is based on hearings and a public consultation hosted by the Committee in 2012, with the aim of charting a sustainable future for Ireland’s post office network.
Other recommendations include that:
·the sharing of facilities with other community service providers to minimise overhead costs and maintain accessibility, given the social benefit of providing advice and face to face contact for rural communities in particular;
·the Government recognises that any successful bidder for Department of Social Protection (and, at a later date, NTMA) contracts currently held by the post office network, acknowledge and honour this social responsibility by providing as widespread and comprehensive a service as is currently provided by An Post.
·An Post clarify and make public the criteria it uses to establish the viability of post offices. In addition, An Post should introduce an ‘amber light’ warning system, which would give communities advanced warning that their post office may be vulnerable to closure and engage in consultation with communities before making any final decision regarding closures.
Committee Chairman Tom Hayes TD says: “The post office network, with its unrivalled reach across the nation, has many competitive advantages which could lead to an expansion in the products and services it provides. However, as a Committee, we believe that the Post Office is about much more than the services it provides. For many people the Post Office is the first port of call when an individual seeks to engage with one of the various organs of State. Accordingly, we have prepared this report which focuses on a number of areas which would provide the best prospect for the retention of the maximum possible number of Post Offices, of which there are currently some 1,150.
“We hope that this report would provide a roadmap for how the sector might consolidate and, indeed, how that outcome might be supported by the State. We thank both An Post and the Irish Postmasters’ Union for their attendance at public hearings in 2012 and the diverse range of interests who made submissions, from Age Action Ireland and the Senior Citizens’ Parliament to the banks and the Irish Farmers’ Association. Committee Members believe that this report makes a timely, common-sense and practical contribution to ensuring the sustainability of the post office network.”
A copy of the report, which includes wide-ranging recommendations, will be sent to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte TD.
Access a copy of the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’: bit.ly/YRnMdu
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Féin
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Tom Fleming, Independent
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Tom Hayes, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Seán Kenny, Labour
Eamonn Moloney, Labour
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fáil
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Ann Phelan, Labour
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Senators
Terry Brennan
Sean D. Barrett
Eamonn Coghlan
Paschal Mooney
Ned O’Sullivan
John Whelan
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications this afternoon called for the potential of the post office network to assume responsibility for the processing of a range of Government services to be explored.
This may include developing facilities across the 1150 post offices nationwide for the processing of motor tax renewals and hospital charges as well as water charges, property tax, business rates, rents and other Government payment services. In particular, the Committee recommends that the Post Office network be utilised as part of the Government’s financial inclusion strategy to deliver basic payment accounts to the ‘unbanked’. These recommendations are included in the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’, launched this afternoon 26 March.
The Report is based on hearings and a public consultation hosted by the Committee in 2012, with the aim of charting a sustainable future for Ireland’s post office network.
Other recommendations include that:
·the sharing of facilities with other community service providers to minimise overhead costs and maintain accessibility, given the social benefit of providing advice and face to face contact for rural communities in particular;
·the Government recognises that any successful bidder for Department of Social Protection (and, at a later date, NTMA) contracts currently held by the post office network, acknowledge and honour this social responsibility by providing as widespread and comprehensive a service as is currently provided by An Post.
·An Post clarify and make public the criteria it uses to establish the viability of post offices. In addition, An Post should introduce an ‘amber light’ warning system, which would give communities advanced warning that their post office may be vulnerable to closure and engage in consultation with communities before making any final decision regarding closures.
Committee Chairman Tom Hayes TD says: “The post office network, with its unrivalled reach across the nation, has many competitive advantages which could lead to an expansion in the products and services it provides. However, as a Committee, we believe that the Post Office is about much more than the services it provides. For many people the Post Office is the first port of call when an individual seeks to engage with one of the various organs of State. Accordingly, we have prepared this report which focuses on a number of areas which would provide the best prospect for the retention of the maximum possible number of Post Offices, of which there are currently some 1,150.
“We hope that this report would provide a roadmap for how the sector might consolidate and, indeed, how that outcome might be supported by the State. We thank both An Post and the Irish Postmasters’ Union for their attendance at public hearings in 2012 and the diverse range of interests who made submissions, from Age Action Ireland and the Senior Citizens’ Parliament to the banks and the Irish Farmers’ Association. Committee Members believe that this report makes a timely, common-sense and practical contribution to ensuring the sustainability of the post office network.”
A copy of the report, which includes wide-ranging recommendations, will be sent to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte TD.
Access a copy of the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’: bit.ly/YRnMdu
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Féin
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Tom Fleming, Independent
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Tom Hayes, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Seán Kenny, Labour
Eamonn Moloney, Labour
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fáil
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Ann Phelan, Labour
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Senators
Terry Brennan
Sean D. Barrett
Eamonn Coghlan
Paschal Mooney
Ned O’Sullivan
John Whelan
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications this afternoon called for the potential of the post office network to assume responsibility for the processing of a range of Government services to be explored.
This may include developing facilities across the 1150 post offices nationwide for the processing of motor tax renewals and hospital charges as well as water charges, property tax, business rates, rents and other Government payment services. In particular, the Committee recommends that the Post Office network be utilised as part of the Government’s financial inclusion strategy to deliver basic payment accounts to the ‘unbanked’. These recommendations are included in the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’, launched this afternoon 26 March.
The Report is based on hearings and a public consultation hosted by the Committee in 2012, with the aim of charting a sustainable future for Ireland’s post office network.
Other recommendations include that:
·the sharing of facilities with other community service providers to minimise overhead costs and maintain accessibility, given the social benefit of providing advice and face to face contact for rural communities in particular;
·the Government recognises that any successful bidder for Department of Social Protection (and, at a later date, NTMA) contracts currently held by the post office network, acknowledge and honour this social responsibility by providing as widespread and comprehensive a service as is currently provided by An Post.
·An Post clarify and make public the criteria it uses to establish the viability of post offices. In addition, An Post should introduce an ‘amber light’ warning system, which would give communities advanced warning that their post office may be vulnerable to closure and engage in consultation with communities before making any final decision regarding closures.
Committee Chairman Tom Hayes TD says: “The post office network, with its unrivalled reach across the nation, has many competitive advantages which could lead to an expansion in the products and services it provides. However, as a Committee, we believe that the Post Office is about much more than the services it provides. For many people the Post Office is the first port of call when an individual seeks to engage with one of the various organs of State. Accordingly, we have prepared this report which focuses on a number of areas which would provide the best prospect for the retention of the maximum possible number of Post Offices, of which there are currently some 1,150.
“We hope that this report would provide a roadmap for how the sector might consolidate and, indeed, how that outcome might be supported by the State. We thank both An Post and the Irish Postmasters’ Union for their attendance at public hearings in 2012 and the diverse range of interests who made submissions, from Age Action Ireland and the Senior Citizens’ Parliament to the banks and the Irish Farmers’ Association. Committee Members believe that this report makes a timely, common-sense and practical contribution to ensuring the sustainability of the post office network.”
A copy of the report, which includes wide-ranging recommendations, will be sent to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte TD.
Access a copy of the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’: bit.ly/YRnMdu
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Féin
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Tom Fleming, Independent
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Tom Hayes, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Seán Kenny, Labour
Eamonn Moloney, Labour
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fáil
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Ann Phelan, Labour
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Senators
Terry Brennan
Sean D. Barrett
Eamonn Coghlan
Paschal Mooney
Ned O’Sullivan
John Whelan
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications this afternoon called for the potential of the post office network to assume responsibility for the processing of a range of Government services to be explored.
This may include developing facilities across the 1150 post offices nationwide for the processing of motor tax renewals and hospital charges as well as water charges, property tax, business rates, rents and other Government payment services. In particular, the Committee recommends that the Post Office network be utilised as part of the Government’s financial inclusion strategy to deliver basic payment accounts to the ‘unbanked’. These recommendations are included in the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’, launched this afternoon 26 March.
The Report is based on hearings and a public consultation hosted by the Committee in 2012, with the aim of charting a sustainable future for Ireland’s post office network.
Other recommendations include that:
·the sharing of facilities with other community service providers to minimise overhead costs and maintain accessibility, given the social benefit of providing advice and face to face contact for rural communities in particular;
·the Government recognises that any successful bidder for Department of Social Protection (and, at a later date, NTMA) contracts currently held by the post office network, acknowledge and honour this social responsibility by providing as widespread and comprehensive a service as is currently provided by An Post.
·An Post clarify and make public the criteria it uses to establish the viability of post offices. In addition, An Post should introduce an ‘amber light’ warning system, which would give communities advanced warning that their post office may be vulnerable to closure and engage in consultation with communities before making any final decision regarding closures.
Committee Chairman Tom Hayes TD says: “The post office network, with its unrivalled reach across the nation, has many competitive advantages which could lead to an expansion in the products and services it provides. However, as a Committee, we believe that the Post Office is about much more than the services it provides. For many people the Post Office is the first port of call when an individual seeks to engage with one of the various organs of State. Accordingly, we have prepared this report which focuses on a number of areas which would provide the best prospect for the retention of the maximum possible number of Post Offices, of which there are currently some 1,150.
“We hope that this report would provide a roadmap for how the sector might consolidate and, indeed, how that outcome might be supported by the State. We thank both An Post and the Irish Postmasters’ Union for their attendance at public hearings in 2012 and the diverse range of interests who made submissions, from Age Action Ireland and the Senior Citizens’ Parliament to the banks and the Irish Farmers’ Association. Committee Members believe that this report makes a timely, common-sense and practical contribution to ensuring the sustainability of the post office network.”
A copy of the report, which includes wide-ranging recommendations, will be sent to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte TD.
Access a copy of the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’: bit.ly/YRnMdu
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Féin
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Tom Fleming, Independent
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Tom Hayes, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Seán Kenny, Labour
Eamonn Moloney, Labour
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fáil
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Ann Phelan, Labour
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Senators
Terry Brennan
Sean D. Barrett
Eamonn Coghlan
Paschal Mooney
Ned O’Sullivan
John Whelan
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications this afternoon called for the potential of the post office network to assume responsibility for the processing of a range of Government services to be explored.
This may include developing facilities across the 1150 post offices nationwide for the processing of motor tax renewals and hospital charges as well as water charges, property tax, business rates, rents and other Government payment services. In particular, the Committee recommends that the Post Office network be utilised as part of the Government’s financial inclusion strategy to deliver basic payment accounts to the ‘unbanked’. These recommendations are included in the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’, launched this afternoon 26 March.
The Report is based on hearings and a public consultation hosted by the Committee in 2012, with the aim of charting a sustainable future for Ireland’s post office network.
Other recommendations include that:
·the sharing of facilities with other community service providers to minimise overhead costs and maintain accessibility, given the social benefit of providing advice and face to face contact for rural communities in particular;
·the Government recognises that any successful bidder for Department of Social Protection (and, at a later date, NTMA) contracts currently held by the post office network, acknowledge and honour this social responsibility by providing as widespread and comprehensive a service as is currently provided by An Post.
·An Post clarify and make public the criteria it uses to establish the viability of post offices. In addition, An Post should introduce an ‘amber light’ warning system, which would give communities advanced warning that their post office may be vulnerable to closure and engage in consultation with communities before making any final decision regarding closures.
Committee Chairman Tom Hayes TD says: “The post office network, with its unrivalled reach across the nation, has many competitive advantages which could lead to an expansion in the products and services it provides. However, as a Committee, we believe that the Post Office is about much more than the services it provides. For many people the Post Office is the first port of call when an individual seeks to engage with one of the various organs of State. Accordingly, we have prepared this report which focuses on a number of areas which would provide the best prospect for the retention of the maximum possible number of Post Offices, of which there are currently some 1,150.
“We hope that this report would provide a roadmap for how the sector might consolidate and, indeed, how that outcome might be supported by the State. We thank both An Post and the Irish Postmasters’ Union for their attendance at public hearings in 2012 and the diverse range of interests who made submissions, from Age Action Ireland and the Senior Citizens’ Parliament to the banks and the Irish Farmers’ Association. Committee Members believe that this report makes a timely, common-sense and practical contribution to ensuring the sustainability of the post office network.”
A copy of the report, which includes wide-ranging recommendations, will be sent to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte TD.
Access a copy of the ‘Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network’: bit.ly/YRnMdu
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Féin
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Tom Fleming, Independent
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Tom Hayes, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Seán Kenny, Labour
Eamonn Moloney, Labour
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fáil
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Ann Phelan, Labour
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Senators
Terry Brennan
Sean D. Barrett
Eamonn Coghlan
Paschal Mooney
Ned O’Sullivan
John Whelan