Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Tánaiste and Minister of State. On Brexit preparedness, additional staff have been hired but is the Tánaiste satisfied that the level is adequate to cater for what is coming down the line? While we do not yet know what the final outcome will be, is he satisfied that there are adequate staffing levels in the Department's headquarters and the Irish embassies in the areas we are discussing? I welcome that under Global Ireland 2025, the Department will open additional embassies and consuls in various places and there are a number of other areas we could and will consider in the near future. I wish to put on record my appreciation of the wonderful work that is being done in consular assistance. I have been approached in respect of a number of cases in recent years, particularly in recent months, where there were serious accidents involving persons without insurance as well as one fatal accident. The work that was carried out by the Department's consular staff is to be commended and I am sure that I speak for many of the families when I say the Department and the other group which the Tánaiste mentioned have done exceptional work. It is important because families tell me that at a time such as that, when they are far away and might not understand all the information they receive, people are on the ground to help and assist them in the event of a sad occasion.

On passports, each of us as a public representative is inundated daily in respect of additional passports. The passport service did phenomenal work in issuing 860,000 passports in 2018, which is the highest ever, but the number continues to rise. It is only right and proper that we would acknowledge the work of people in this service. I was often asked about a location in the north west but the online facilities for passports will remove many of the problems for people. It is a successful and important development.

On the Minister of State's comments about diaspora issues, we are making significant progress in various parts of the world where we previously did not. I acknowledge his presence and commitment to the work he is doing in that regard.

We have spoken about Brexit and the future of Northern Ireland. The Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, of which I am a member, has met a number of groups who have benefited from the reconciliation fund. The fund has been well supported and it is only right and proper that we continue in that regard because various groups have benefited from it.