Minister Launches An Post Disaster Appeal

7 January 2005

The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Mr Noel Dempsey today (Friday) made the first donation to the An Post Asian Disaster Appeal Fund at the GPO in Dublin.

Minister Dempsey’s contribution launched an appeal fund established by An Post so that individual members of the public can contribute to the tsunami disaster relief activities at 1,350 post offices throughout the country.

Cash donations made through the An Post appeal fund will be shared equally by five overseas aid organisations – Trocaire, GOAL, Concern, the Irish Red Cross and UNICEF.

Mr Donal Curtin, Chief Executive of An Post said the appeal fund had been established in response to a public demand at Post Offices for a mechanism to contribute to the disaster relief effort.

“An Post and sub postmasters across the network will waive all charges and transaction fees normally associated with donations. That means that every euro donated will go to the five organisations and their work with tsunami victims,” Mr Curtin said.

Minister Dempsey commended An Post for its initiative in establishing the tsunami disaster appeal. “The An Post Appeal fund will help implement the national desire to offer support to the thousands of victims of the catastrophe,” he said.