Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank members for their contributions. Perhaps I can address the replies by way of groups because there has been an interest in the same topics, including the issue raised by the Chairman and Deputy Darragh O'Brien in regard to Northern Ireland. I wish to assure members that we are anxious to advance matters under the Good Friday Agreement, the Stormont House Agreement and A Fresh Start. Deputy Darragh O'Brien is correct in saying there has not been the same number of meetings this years compared to last year. That was because of our general election and coincidentally a round of Assembly elections in Northern Ireland, a rather protracted Government formation period here, similarly a negotiation of the programme for Government in Northern Ireland. As a result, there have been fewer meetings. However, during the period in question I did have a number of high-level engagements in Northern Ireland with the Secretary of State and with the party leaders. I expect to have a date very soon for the North-South Ministerial Council meeting. A date had been fixed for around now but all the parties were not in a position to proceed as we would have liked.

However, that is a priority issue and I expect to be in a position to report progress through the Office of the Taoiseach. Of course, the Chairman and the committee will be informed. Deputy Darragh O'Brien is correct. It is important to ensure that the various ministerial engagements on the work programmes that have already been agreed report progress in a way that, in the circumstances, is appropriate. In the programme for Government we have identified a number of specific areas which will be implemented in early course. We are also looking at areas such as third level education, sustainable transport, cross-Border greenways, e-health as well as the more traditional areas such as economic development and programmes across the north west in particular.

I acknowledge the kind words of Deputies in respect of the staff at the Passport Office who, we all accept, do a very good job in somewhat challenging circumstances. In the course of our duties, as public representatives, we all deal with emergency situations, all of which seek a form of priority. We are now at peak season with more than 60,000 applications currently in process. So far the number of incomplete applications is of the order of 32,000, which gives rise to queries. Deputy Noel Grealish is correct when he speaks of the need to ensure we have a programme of information. Deputies, public representatives and county councils can all have a role by having these issues addressed by way of information at our meetings. We have notices at Garda stations, some post offices and the like. It is important that we continue to remind people to make an application in advance. If people are travelling in three weeks or more the passport express service is the cheapest and most convenient application channel, the turnaround for which is 12 to 13 days. Obviously for people travelling more immediately they should go online. The importance of our expenditure programme is to enable converting to online. This should not be underestimated. We expect that will be completed by 2018. Already people can apply for an alert reminder. We would hope by the end of 2018, once the applications are online, that the facility will have been taken up by large numbers of people. It is important that people register for reminders.

In regard to the spike in applications at this time of year, a number of steps have been taken by the Passport Office, including the recruitment of more than 200 temporary staff and current staff working overtime. My advice, which I ask the Chairman and members to convey to their constituents, is to allow six weeks, 15 days is the target, for receipt of passports. Unfortunately there are times when this timeframe cannot be guaranteed. It is important to engage with An Post to ensure applicants get a realistic estimate of the timeframe.

There has been an increase in the number of applications from overseas, particularly first time applications from Britain and Northern Ireland. However, in terms of applications from overseas the impact on the passport service overall has been minimal as numbers are low. The total increase in first time applications from Great Britain for the months January to May, compared with last year, is 3%. The total number of first time applications this year is likely to be of the order of 4,000.

That represents a very small percentage of the total number of applications for Irish passports each year, which is currently approximately 670,000. I will furnish precise details of the countries outside the State with the greatest number of passport holders and the greatest number of applications but I would be disappointed if they were not the UK and the US, in that order. I am happy to continue engagement with the committee on the matter of passport services. We are working towards a reformed passport system, which will result in a state-of-the-art service to our citizens and applicants.

In respect of consular services, I acknowledge the kind words of Deputies about the very sensitive, dedicated and important work our consular teams undertake abroad, often in very difficult circumstances. We already said that there were 250 deaths last year. This is a very sensitive time for families and we are anxious at all times to ensure that these sensitivities are observed and that we offer an appropriate level of assistance. In respect of consular expenditure, it is appropriate and necessary for us to look at it in terms of the entire year rather than on a month by month basis but the committee can take it that the amount of money we have allocated towards that will undoubtedly be expended because we are now running at in excess of 2,500 cases per annum, which is unprecedented. We always ensure that expenditure is appropriate to the needs of those involved.

Deputy Grealish is right about the issue of insurance. Unfortunately, too many of our people are going abroad without an appropriate level of travel insurance. We can only advise people, which we do. A significant feature of our new travel app is a series of local advices tailored to meet the circumstances of the country. Those who have seen it will undoubtedly have been enthused by the level of information. I would advise those who have not seen it to take some time out and look at it. I again advise constituents to do so because there is a huge amount of information on that app with advice on insurance. It underlines what the Department is doing to ensure that we have a state-of-the-art, world-class service for our citizens travelling abroad. In respect of the Chairman's remarks about France and Irish fans currently travelling, we had a most innovative feature of our engagement in this regard with immediate and short-term pop-up facilities in Lille and Bordeaux. Similarly, our team will be on the ground in Lyon on Sunday.

Deputy Grealish mentioned embassies and threats and Deputy Darragh O'Brien referred to expenditure on our embassies. We do not have, nor have we had, any specific threats but we share information and intelligence with other embassy networks and liaise closely by means of taking advice from local intelligence services and police forces. There have been incidences where we felt it was appropriate to increase our security because we have a strict obligation to our staff, our citizens and people using our embassy and consular services but we have not received any specific threat to any specific embassy in any specific country. Notwithstanding that, we keep our building network under review for security and other issues.

In respect of the mission review, we have 81 full-time embassies and missions abroad. We would like to increase that number in accordance with our priority programmes over a range of issues with particular reference to trade.

Over the past number of years, like all Departments, we had some pressures on our expenditure but during that time, we were in a position to open new embassies in Jakarta in Indonesia, Hong Kong and Austin in Texas. We are reviewing what we would regard as best practice in order to ensure we can maximise our footprint across the regions. I would be happy at another stage with more time to go into a greater level of detail on that. I would welcome any commentary, advice or observations that members might have in that regard.

Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan made a point regarding the reconciliation fund in respect of Northern Ireland and across the island. I can assure her and other members that the fund is open to new organisations. We encourage new applications and are anxious to ensure that we have a significant level of direct engagement with groups. If the Deputy has contact with any particular groups, we would be happy to hear from her in that regard. Again, I ask people to visit the Department's website from time to time where we have full and detailed particulars of the criteria for qualification, the application forms, the deadlines and dates. Of course, we would welcome new groups and we have an appropriate level of criteria-based scrutiny and evaluation with a view to ensuring an appropriate level of checks and balances.

I am not sure if the Chairman will allow much debate on Maghaberry Prison in the context of the Estimates because I know we are pressed for time but I would be happy to engage bilaterally with Deputy O'Sullivan if she requires some information prior to the next parliamentary question series.