Latest news with #AnPost
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- General
- RTÉ News
An Post sends 4,000 Mass cards to the Vatican
An Post has sent almost 4,000 mass cards from Irish people expressing their sympathies at the death of Pope Francis to the Vatican. The cards were sent free of charge. Ireland's Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor, described the initiative by An Post as "beautiful". "They are more than a gesture of remembrance, they are a sign of attachment to a person who had a special place in many Irish hearts," he said. "They carry with them your prayers for Pope Francis, but they carry too your love and appreciation of what he meant in your lives." A spokesperson for An Post said the organisation has been in touch with its counterpart in the Vatican post office to let them know the package of cards will be arriving. "So many customers were pleased to be able to express their sympathy and respect for the late Pope Francis and know that their cards will be delivered safely," the spokesperson said. "We've even received cards from across the world to be included in the despatch from Ireland."
The Journal
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Advertising watchdog upholds complaint against An Post for 'misleading' digital stamps ad
THE ADVERTISING STANDARDS Authority (ASA) has upheld a complaint against An Post for an advertisement deemed to be 'misleading'. The advertising watchdog published its complaints bulletin in which six complaints out of seven were upheld due to the promotion of misleading content. The An Post ad in question was disseminated by direct mail and related to a recent campaign by the national postal operator which promoted its new digital stamps as alternatives to traditional physical stamps. A complainant issued a claim to the ASA of misleading information against the advertised statement: 'Send anytime, to anywhere using An Post Digital Stamps'. This was considered to be inaccurate as the digital stamps themselves expire six months after purchase, meaning consumers were not assure usage at 'any time' if their six months had passed. Advertisement Another statement made in the ad that 'Post now has no limits' was disputed by the complainant, considering the six-month expiry issue places a clear limit on their rollout, as opposed to traditional paper stamps. The ASA also upheld a complaint made against supermarket chain Aldi on the grounds of misleading information and concern about environmental impacts. An ad promoting Burn and Glow Lignite Coal, which featured claims like 'they're also virtually smokeless and an environmentally friendly option', was 'unsubstantiated and false', the ASA said. The claim that the product is 'environmentally friendly' was struck down, with the complainant pointing out the deleterious effect of fossil fuels on the environment by increasing the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere when burned. Further to this, the complainant cited information from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in expressing concern that fossil fuel burning could be advertised as an efficient way to heat a home when even 'smokeless fuels' are capable of emitting particulate matter which damages human breathing. Other advertisers identified as having published misleading information include US real estate franchise Keller Williams, air conditioner manufacturer Daikin, BEO Wellness and Skinbae & Beyond Co. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Times
21-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Irish post office network requires annual funding of €15m to avoid ‘rapid closures'
The post office network requires funding of €15 million per year out to 2030 or the Republic faces the prospect of 'rapid, unrestrained closures', which would risk 'irreparable financial, economic and social harm', a report from Grant Thornton has found. The report on the network, which was produced for the Irish Postmasters' Union , established it provides €344-€776 million in annual social and economic value to Irish communities. While An Post, which manages the postal system, is fully self-funded and sustainable, the post office network is mainly composed of independent individual businesses run by contractors under licence from An Post. 'I've entrepreneurial spirit in my veins' – Apprentice star Jordan Dargan Listen | 44:45 The network has 933 branches, of which 888 are run by independent postmasters who operate as small businesses. They employ about 1,409 people. READ MORE However, the report warned the network is now 'at a tipping point' having, since 2020, absorbed a cost-of-living crisis marked by 15 per cent inflation, 30 per cent increases in the minimum wage, and a sharp decline in transaction-based income. The State provided investment to the network during the Covid-19 crisis via a number of financial support mechanisms, including direct funding of €10 million per annum, but this is due to expire at the end of the year. The report said even a continuation of the €10 million funding is 'no longer sufficient to secure the network'. The €15 million investment is 'not about expansion', but 'safeguarding what already exists'. 'Without this commitment, Ireland faces the prospect of rapid, unrestrained closures, cutting communities off from vital services, and undermining national goals for regional equity, social cohesion, and financial access,' it said. Grant Thornton found there has been a decline of 15 million An Post transactions between 2019 and 2023, which has 'led directly' to falling postmasters' gross revenue from €61.6 million to €58 million. Efforts to improve the financial sustainability of the network, including a reduction in the number of post offices from 952 in 2019 to 902 in 2023, has 'not been sufficient' to stabilise postmasters' gross revenue without additional funding support, it added. A previous market analysis by Grant Thornton in 2020 highlighted that approximately one-third of post offices were facing significant financial challenges and were at risk of closure without further investment. 'The challenges since 2020 of lower contractual transaction activity levels, falling revenue before costs and taxes, and increased rent, rates, electricity and labour costs indicate that this previous estimate may now be conservative in 2025,' the report said. In response to questions about the report, An Post said it supports the call for the Government to extend and increase direct funding for postmasters to €15 million per year and 'put that on a permanent footing'. 'An Post has invested heavily in the post office network and worked hard to broaden the range of services available through post offices,' a spokeswoman said. 'But to protect the current post office network size and decelerate the closure of post offices, extending Government funding beyond December 2025 is fundamental.' The Department of Communications said the Government 'will continue to provide' the network with funding to 'ensure sustainability' and that its officials are 'working to deliver on this'.
RTÉ News
20-05-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Postmasters call for urgent funding to secure post office network
The Irish Postmasters' Union (IPU) has said the country's post office network urgently needs an investment of €15 million per year over five years to secure the future of the service. The figures are contained in a new report by Grant Thornton for the IPU. Without adequate funding, the union has claimed that the future is bleak, and the prospect of rapid, unrestrained closures is an immediate threat. The Grant Thornton research places a figure of between €344 million and €776 million on the annual social and economic value of the post office network to communities across Ireland. With the current Government funding arrangement due to expire at the end of 2025, postmasters are now calling for immediate clarity from the Government to ensure the continued sustainability of the network. "As banks continue to close branches and Ireland transitions to a more digitally-focused economy, post offices have become critical for financial inclusion and cash accessibility, particularly for vulnerable citizens and rural communities," the IPU said. The union said that rising cost-of-living pressures, inflation, wage increases, and compliance costs that have severely impacted postmasters' incomes, but post offices remain ineligible for many available business supports. They are also unable to increase their prices due to their contract requirements with An Post. "The Government can secure the future of Ireland's post office network with a strategic investment of less than €3 per citizen per year - less than the price of a cup of coffee," said Seán Martin, President of the IPU. "We're asking for a clear, long-term commitment, not just short-term support," Mr Martin said. "This investment will not only protect essential community services but will also enable postmasters to take on additional roles, such as increased banking services, public identity verification, support for Government energy-efficiency schemes, and processing of public forms like passport applications and voter registration, helping relieve pressure on frontline public services," he added. A spokesperson for the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications said the Government is committed to supporting Ireland's post office network. "The Programme for Government states that the Government will continue to provide the nationwide network of post offices with funding to ensure their sustainability and enhance the value they bring to local communities," the spokesperson said. "The relevant officials in the Department are working to deliver on this and are engaging with relevant stakeholders in relation to the funding." "Additionally, the Department is working with Government colleagues to secure future funding in line with the Programme for Government," the spokesperson added. An Post is fully self-funded and commercially independent, but the post office network is mainly composed of independent individual businesses run by postmasters who provide services under licence from An Post. An Post said it supports the efforts of the IPU to have the Government extend and increase direct funding for postmasters to €15 million per year and put that on a permanent footing. "The funding protects the post office network and ensures that citizens and businesses nationwide can continue to access trusted, practical and ever-expanding services in their own communities," an An Post spokesperson said.
Irish Independent
07-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Irish operator of National Lottery to pay French owner €35m
French lottery operator La Française des Jeux (FDJ) acquired Premier Lotteries Ireland, which holds the exclusive rights to operate the Irish National Lottery until 2034. The deal placed a €350m enterprise value – which includes debt – on the transaction. It saw all three shareholders in Premier Lotteries Ireland sell their stakes. The owners were Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, An Post and An Post Pension Fund. Now FDJ is taking cash off the table. 'The accounts show a €100m dividend was paid in 2023 to the shareholders' In a company filing for Premier Lotteries Ireland, a resolution details the amount of cash that will be extracted by FDJ. It's being undertaken by way of a reduction in the Irish company's capital. It will result in the cancellation of 35 million shares in the firm, each of which are held by FDJ. It's intended that the money will be returned as cash to the French owner on May 26. Last month, a 'bonus issue of shares', amounting to 72.7 million shares in Premier Lotteries, was handed over to FDJ. The latest set of publicly available accounts for Premier Lotteries Ireland show that it made a €7.7m operating loss in 2023. That compared to an €8.2m operating profit in 2022. The accounts also show that a €100m dividend was paid during 2023 to shareholders. Lottery sales in 2023 hit €829.4m. Of that, draw-based games generated €531.5m in revenue. Sales of scratch cards and interactive instant win games were €298m. ADVERTISEMENT At the end of 2023, there were almost 5,200 sale points throughout the country. Online sales in 2023 fell to €132m from €141.4m the year before. Prizes fell to €478m from €485m in 2022. Under the terms of the lottery licence, 65pc of gross gaming revenue has to be paid to fund good causes. The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan acquired the lottery operator in 2014 for €405m. That deal granted a 20-year licensing period and included An Post and An Post Pension Funds as junior partners While An Post has been a minority shareholder since the licence was privatised in the wake of the financial crisis, the sale to the French firm in 2023 meant there was no state involvement in the National Lottery for the first time since it was created.
