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LAST UPDATE | 14 Jan
AN POST HAS said the GPO is “totally unsuitable” for use as a soup kitchen after the Labour Party called on its CEO David McRedmond to open the underutilised building to services that need them.
McRedmond chaired the Taoiseach’s Dublin city taskforce that made the case against on-street soup kitchens in the city centre. The services could become more regulated through new bye-laws that were recommended by the group last year.
Dublin councillors stressed last week that it was not the intention to ban the services, but ensure correct protections are in place.
Labour councillor Dermot Lacey today said that An Post should provide the GPO as a space for homeless and other, similar services to operate indoors.
He argued that if the soup kitchen services were moved inside the GPO, on a temporary basis, it would negate most of the issues cited in a 2021 report by one social policy expert that said they disrupted businesses and created an intimidating atmosphere in the city.
The report, which was used by the taskforce in its recommendations, added the model of on-street food services contributed to an increased level of anti-social behavior in Dublin and was “inherently undignified and is potentially unsafe”.
Lacey said McRedmond has been vocal about moving soup kitchens and other food services for homeless people off the streets and into indoor places.
He said that the GPO, as a central and symbolic location, has the facilities to provide a short-term solution.
An Post moved the majority of its employees out of the GPO in 2023 following the launch of its new headquarters on North Wall Quay in Dublin city and its CEO McRedmond recommended, in his role on the taskforce, that the service sell the building.
Lacey argued that the “underutilised” facilities in the GPO would serve as suitable and temporary measure, until a long-term solution is found. He said it was “vital” that the services continue to operate for those in need in the city.
“I’m calling on An Post to engage with community organisations and the City Council to explore the feasibility of opening the GPO canteen as an indoor soup kitchen,” he said.
“Let’s act now to provide immediate support while building for the future.”
In a statement to The Journal, a spokesperson for An Post said the venue was “totally unsuitable” for use as a soup kitchen site.
“This is not a trivial issue,” the service said. “The Dublin Taskforce Report’s recommendation concerning soup kitchens, which was informed by experts in homeless support services, is for a professional approach and customised facilities.”
Some councillors have supported ideas such as permit applications and requirements for operators to train volunteers in food safety and social care while others claim the council is attempting to regulate compassion.
Speaking to The Journal last month, the head of Muslim Sisters of Éire – a group that feeds the homeless on Dublin’s streets – Lorraine O’Connor said that more time and attention should be directed to solving issues around homelessness.
An Post has been contacted for comment.
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Taking tips off the staff would be a low thing to do and would not promote good service ,the tip is for a service that the customer feels is due to the receipen not for the employer
@FlopFlipU: Tips given generally for all staff including in the kitchen I would have thought. If you include the tip on a card staff don’t get tip for a while until worked out by book keepers. Tip as cash gets to staff faster.
@Gillian Scully: you know this for sure what about the presentage supplied what does the chef get as opposed to the waiter get ,it needs to be trashed out in my opinion ,
@FlopFlipU: no would bes..it happens all the time
@Gillian Scully: I would generally reserve it for the server…but this can depend on the size of the premises. Small places, generally a tip jar for all and in larger establishments the person who has served me.
the management and owners deserve a share of the tips also.
@frank murphy: No they dont…….
@FlopFlipU: The tips are intended for the waitress at least that is what I thought..As regards the chef he is been better paid than the waitress so in future a waitress should have some kind of bag or purse to keep the tips intended for them..If employers paid a proper wage to the waitress there would be no need to tip..But a waitress who gives good service to the customer deserves a tip
I am delighted to see this legislation, I tipped a young girl in a restaurant in Trim , she was so pleasant and even advised us of places of interest, but she told us that she would only be allowed to keep two euro per hour tip as the employer kept the balance of all tips and she was required to hand in her tips to the head barman, for her four hour shift, she was handed eight euro in tips , I was astonished that any employer would withhold tips from staff, I always assumed employers would have no right to such gratuities, this is a greedy practice and this legislation will put manners on employers who dip into their staffs tips.
@Honeybee: name and shame.
@Honeybee: that waitress sure did spend a lot of time talking to you ..
@Honeybee: that is horrible. The tip is from the customer and they make the decision to give it directly to the one person for their great services…I’d be fuming to think the employer took the tips and decided how they were divided out. If an establishment is small and there’s a tip jar and many hands made my night special I would like them all to receive a % of the tip. But if i directly hand it to a server for their good work, then it’s theirs.
I worked in this industry the tips were great. But why do we have tips. Was in Dunnes the other day the young girl working went our of her way to find a product for us. Tips should be across the board were people go beyond their duties.
@: __ Perhaps you should have given her a tip?
Hardly ever tip..food and already overpriced as it is.
That on top of the fact servers are earning at the very least minimum wage anyways.
@Leroy: hope you like eating boogers and cum
@Leroy: __ It’s a good job we’re not all skinflints.
@Fergus Sheahan: __ He probably would eat those rare delicacies, as long as they weren’t overpriced.
@Leroy: yea, someone on minimum wage, possibly second job/part time to make ends meet, prices aren’t the servers fault. If you can afford to eat out you can afford a small gratuity for someone you feel deserves it. Miserable attitude.
@Leroy: So you’re a tosser then? Could’ve just said that.
@Leroy: wow Leroy, your generosity knows no bounds
Tips are so important to the people in that industry….not sure why we decide to pick and choose who we deem worthy of a tip though…I tipped some young lad who brought down my Mc Donald’s meal to my table for me and the kids…look of gratitude on his face was worth the 2 quid.
Fair play, Bill.
Not doing this out of the goodness of there hearts. The revenue has been trying get there hands on cash tips for years
Government is a bit two faced here. Staff working in what is considered to be a tipping zone have their tax free allowance cut to take account of the possibility of extra income.
This is bull.
Must I tip now when I dine out in Ireland?
The whole point of the tip culture originates from a country with low minimum wage attributes, and no sick leave/holiday pay or any other kind of niceness.
The country is the USA.
I won’t be tipping you for doing your job in Ireland. A job which has benefits that are more than are afforded to me.
@Oliver McLoughlin: No, you need not tip, leave that to decent and generous people.
Who does this Bill think he is?
good
YES employers should not withold tips.. but WTF does this have to be regulated, oh I guess its to trumpet in the wonderful new leader of SF.
In some places its completely necessary for the employer to have dibs on the tips – there may be policies that tips are shared to kitchen staff or others, or it funds staff voluntary perks. Upset that balance and staff morale could be a mess… Or what do you do when the owner is a member of staff. Is he not allowed to have a part of the tip, what if the owners wife or son is …
There are so many tipping policies possible and now SF want busy bodies enforcing it..
Twould be easier if someone like tripadvisor had a seal/icon to say ‘staff-friendly-tips’ or ‘staff-shared-tips’ or no tipping.
Would SF every go back to laundering diesel properly…
Service charges should be outlawed , the price quoted should be the price to be paid.
Staff should be paid proper rates of pay ,which is included in what you are buying so no need for tipping .
Sinn Fein are trying to get on Pension gravy train .
Three Years for a Pension for Life. Is a great temptation ,ridiculous and should be brought to an end .
Those People with a Ministers pension in their pocket are the same people saying a Civil Servant pension after 40 / 45
Years is too generous ???.
Moons ago when waitressing, we all had set tables to wait, yet had to hand over all tips after each table left, which was than divided out to all staff which was cruel but kind as than everyone was included, but boss kept big portion for himself. In current Job not allowed except gifts/tips exception Christmas and everything pooled and raffelled out, We have to inform boss and ask permission to accept anything, it’s to prevent conflict of interest.
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