Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

That is okay. I thank the Minister for answering those questions.

On passports, I want to commend the Passport Office. The processing of passports has really sped up in recent years. I have some questions on this. An issue I have encountered is where people have made three attempts to get witnesses to authorise the photographs. If there is no garda on duty on a day, the applicant cannot get the form signed and is therefore able to get his or her application processed in time. That is something the Tánaiste might look at. Sometimes it is not identified that the photographs are not compatible in time and people have to go back and forth which can add another two or three weeks. He might also look at that.

I do not know if the Tánaiste can answer this but has he considered the need for a Passport Office in Belfast which would alleviate the situation for people not only in the North but also in the north west? It would make it easier for them to get passports. Would the Tánaiste consider this? At least 50% of the people in the North have Irish passports.

I commend the Tánaiste on embassies and consulates. There are more of them but an issue with a lack of staff has been identified. If you try to call an embassy you cannot get anyone on the phone. Is there an issue there? Are all the embassies staffed to full capacity or does the Tánaiste feel they are under-resourced?