Official Opening of the new decentralised offices for Meath Revenue District in Navan
Address by Revenue Chairman, Frank Daly
Minister, Mayor, Deputies, Distinguished Guests and Colleagues
Welcome
On my own behalf and that of my fellow board members Commissioners Josephine Feehily and Michael O'Grady, I want to add to the welcome extended by both Declan and Denis to you today. We are certainly delighted to be here and even more delighted to be opening our fourth decentralised office in as many months – Navan today follows Kilrush, Listowel and Athy and is the largest of these recent decentralisation moves for Revenue.
As we all know from our history books County Meath is regarded as Ireland's Heritage Capital and was once the place of the High Kings of Ireland. Some of the country's most important historic sites and monuments are located within the county and virtually every important aspect of Irish history from prehistoric times is associated with County Meath. It's true to say that the "Royal County" is a very special place.
And today is a very special day. As you have heard from Denis, today's opening is the culmination of a process that started a little over a year ago and represents the bringing together of Meath Revenue District into one location in the heart of County Meath. It's historic too in that from now on all tax affairs of the taxpayers of the county will be administered from within the county rather than from Dublin – from where indeed they had been administered since the foundation of the State. After today these fine premises here in Navan are Revenue's home in County Meath.
I'm interested in the name of the road outside the window here and upon which the building is located. [Apart from the fact that I am from a place called Abbeyside in Co. Waterford myself] you'll know that there is another famous Abbey Road which is the one in London where the Beatles recording studios were situated and it gives its name to the last LP recorded by the band. Abbey Road is also where they recorded their famous song "Taxman" and I am pretty sure also they had us in mind when Lennon and McCartney wrote "We can work it out" and even more so when they wrote "Help" . I’ll leave you to decide whether that might refer to what we want to do for taxpayers – or perhaps what taxpayers say when they see us coming!
So if you are ever having trouble remembering our address in Navan……just think of the Beatles!!
A positive experience of Decentralisation
The key functions we are bringing here to Navan today are a clear demonstration of Revenue's positive view of the policy of Decentralisation. That positive view is based, not on theory or case studies but on the real experience of our earlier Decentralisation programmes – these earlier programmes worked for staff and they worked for Revenue.
Important development for Revenue
Decentralisation fits very neatly with our core vision that Revenue should be close to citizens. It's about Revenue being at the service of the community – a phrase that is at the very heart of our mission statement as an organisation. It means citizens in Meath being able to conduct their business with Revenue in Meath. Indeed we are here in what will shortly be the Public Office for the District, where taxpayers can come and talk to our staff about any business they have with us. Whether that's about PAYE, tax credits, Vehicle Registration Tax or business taxes generally, there will be someone here to help you. Moreover, because the Revenue staff, responsible for compliance and service within County Meath, are working in the county, they are better tuned in to the needs of customers and the commercial realities of business life in Meath. This approach, to my mind, puts citizens rather than officials at the centre of public administration.
Decentralisation to Navan today will mean most of course to our staff whose dream to live and work here is already being realised. And this Office will enable many others in the years ahead to live out similar dreams as vacancies occur from retirements, promotions and the like. Because today is just the beginning of a long-term commitment by Revenue to Navan.
Decentralisation as a programme has many advantages – it benefits the economy of the town involved, it benefits the structure of society, it benefits the business agenda of an Organisation like Revenue. But where you really appreciate Decentralisation is when you get "up close and personal" and see the change for the better that it is making to the lives of people. Like those:
- coming from the larger towns of Navan, Trim and Kells who for years have been "on the road" at all hours to commute to Dublin and not getting home until late in the evening;
- or those coming from further afield like Oldcastle and even from over the border from places like Virginia in Cavan, where they would drive from home, park up and then take public transport into the City;
- and the thirteen staff from other Departments who have come to Navan to work with us – and whom we particularly welcome today.
The difference to people's lives already is immense. Apart from major savings on commute times – four hours or more per day for some – they can now play a fuller part in their own communities. [Previously unthinkable activities like taking on educational or recreational pursuits in the evenings are now feasible as is being able to play a full part in the local community by training the local football team or by getting involved in the local drama group.
Speaking of football, Abbey Buildings should be a very interesting place to be during the summer time when the football championship is in full swing and true allegiances become apparent. I'm sure that the various County rivalries are already simmering.]
But really everyone's story here today is the same – the pressure of long commuting removed, the opportunity for greater integration with the community, and the promise of a strong Revenue and other Public Service presence in the area offering wider career choice and potential for advancement without the necessity to have to up roots again. That is a big part of what Decentralisation is all about.
Thanks
I would like to express my thanks and congratulations to the staff here, Denis, Declan and Divisional and District management as well as in other Divisions who facilitated staff transfers and made experienced staff available to Meath District when they needed it most. To Revenue staff in Human Resources Division and in Information Communications Technology and Logistics Division, colleagues in the Office of Public Works, developer Liam McLoughlin and his team for their efforts in making these modern offices available to Revenue and making today a reality. You can be proud of what has been achieved.
I would also like to particularly acknowledge today the dedication of the staff here in getting the whole operation up and running in a short space of time. It was, I know, a real team effort. Thanks to all of you all for your dedication and professionalism. I wish you successful, rewarding and fulfilling careers. I hope you enjoy working and living locally.
Finally, I would like to thank the Mayor for his warm welcome and Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey T.D., for giving of his valuable time to perform the official opening today and for celebrating with us this move to his home county and to Navan.