Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and propose that we join him in extending our heartiest congratulations to the Irish team and management and supporters who have the privilege of being in France. They have all been and continue to be great ambassadors for our country.

With regard to passports, members receive representations daily in regard to new passports or the renewal of passports. The Minister referred to the ongoing programme of reform and my understanding is that a new online passport system will be introduced. Will he outline in his response how this reform is progressing and what it will mean for Irish citizens to have the new online passport system? With regard to his concluding remarks on Northern Ireland the British referendum, a number of us in this room represent Border constituencies and I think his earlier remarks on the pressures on the Department with regard to currency Exchange rates, we sincerely hope that after the decision of the electorate in Britain today that we are not back to that being a common issue, on a daily basis for those of us on this island, particularly those of us who live in Border counties and who grew up with the disruption caused by Border controls from the point of view of the control of persons and good crossing either North-South or South-North.

I propose to group the questions together and the Minister may respond to all at the end. Is that okay?