14 March 2017: Postmasters protested outside the GPO today saying that they will resist any Post Office closures driven by An Post, and are to mobilise a national campaign to support communities and keep Post Offices open. The Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU) called on politicians, communities and social organisations to give their support. A representative number of Postmasters attended today’s protest which the IPU said wouldn’t affect Post Office services, while a more comprehensive Dáil rally is planned for April. The IPU said all political parties had pledged their support to maintaining and supporting the Post Office Network at election time and they must now live up to their promises. General […]

9 March 2017: Postmasters are to hold a protest outside the GPO next Tuesday saying they will resist any Post Office closures driven by An Post. The Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU) also demanded the immediate publication and implementation of the completed Post Office Network plan Chaired by Bobby Kerr. IPU General Secretary Ned O’Hara said Government must immediately intervene and stop An Post from stalling the €56m Network development plan. An Post’s Group Chief Executive, David McRedmond, has said that the company wants to stall any decision on planning for future of the Post Office Network until at least next May, while it works on a separate Post Office strategy […]

17 Nov, 2016: It is with regret that the Irish Postmasters’ Union has learnt of Tom O’Callaghan’s resignation from the Executive and Membership of the Union. Mr. O’Callaghan had been under suspension from the Executive due to conduct, a decision taken by Executive in February 2015 and upheld by delegates at the IPU’s 2015 Annual Conference. The IPU is fully committed to securing the best possible future for Ireland’s Post Office Network and was instrumental in securing the current process being led by Bobby Kerr – and including Government, the IPU and An Post – to plan for and resource the future of the Network. The IPU is calling for […]

9 Nov, 2016: Postmasters highlight need for urgent Government action to Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural Affairs The Irish Postmasters’ Union made a detailed presentation to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht on November 9, 2016. The presentation was part of an information gathering process being led by the Committee. The hearing was also attended by An Post, the Irish League of Credit Unions, AIB and Bank of Ireland. The Committee is to compile a report on what can be done to support and sustain rural Ireland. IPU General Secretary Ned O’Hara gave a presentation highlighting urgency for: Appropriate investment to protect the […]

2 October, 2016: Postmasters want Post Offices to become ‘the State on Your Doorstep’. What does this mean and how would it benefit citizens? Irish Postmasters’ Union General Secretary Ned O’Hara sets out Postmasters’ vision for the future of Post Offices in Ireland. The vision of Postmasters for the future of Post Offices is for them to evolve into community based State and social service centres, which connect the citizen to the State in as comprehensive and useful a manner as possible. Postmasters call this vision ‘the State on Your Doorstep’ and this is what Postmasters propose as the future roadmap for Post Offices in Ireland. So what types of […]

2 October 2016: Postmasters seek to become Peace Commissioners Postmasters have set out a vision for Post Offices to become ‘The State on your Doorstep’, including all Postmasters automatically becoming Peace Commissioners. In a new statement setting out their vision for the future, Postmasters want Post Offices to be the go to place for payment, application, identity verification and advice for all Government services. They also want to deliver remote health checks with Hospital and GP link up via technology, become a drop off point for medical prescriptions, a local transport service hub and tourist information points. Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU) General Secretary Ned O’Hara said Post Offices are one of […]

11 Sept 2016. Lack of Government commitment failing communities and rural Ireland Postmasters are to take a ‘more radical approach’ to demand Government action to secure the future of the Post Office Network. The Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU) Executive and Branch Officers held an emergency meeting this weekend (Saturday) to consider what course Postmasters will take as they are frustrated by an ongoing lack of commitment by the Government to use Post Offices. IPU General Secretary Ned O’Hara said at the meeting members gave a mandate to the Executive to take a tougher, more vocal and more radical approach in their demand for Government to invest in the Network’s future […]

9 September 2016. Lack of Government commitment failing communities and rural Ireland Postmasters are holding an emergency meeting in Dublin this weekend (Saturday) to decide on a course of action to secure the future of the Post Office Network. Members of the Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU) are frustrated that there is no apparent commitment by the Government to use the Post Office Network. Promises to deliver Government Services which the Network can provide such as Motor Tax, at a saving to Government in excess of €60m, have not progressed. This compounds the removal of Department of Social Protection cheque payments from the Post Office Network earlier this year and the insistence […]

15 April 2016. Published in the Irish Examiner as an Opinion Editorial. We have to recognise the value of post offices to the country’s social and economic infrastructure, according to IPU general secretary Ned O’Hara POSTMASTERS protested at the Department of Social Protection yesterday over the latest in an ongoing series of attempts by the department to take business away from post offices and hand it to the banks. The position of postmasters is simple — we regard the post office network as a national asset entrusted by the people to the Government to manage on its behalf. It is important to understand that Ireland’s 1,100 postmasters are sub-contractors to An […]