Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste and Minister for foreign affairs and his officials for coming here today. Most of the questions have been asked but I want to thank him and to agree with Deputies Smith and Bennett on the Passport Office and the work it is doing. It is excellent. We are in a busy period. For anyone who has their paperwork right, the passports are done very well. I agree with Deputy Bennett on some of the hold-ups. I have encountered this with gardaí not being on duty and things having to go back again. That is a problem but I am sure the office is looking at that. Overall the Department must be complimented on the work it is doing on issuing passports very quickly.

One person told me lately they did the application online and had the passport back in four working days. That is excellent. The work these people are doing must be mentioned. Additionally, if another office is needed - and I know there is Belfast, but I think Cork is the real second city - I ask if we could consider Cork for it. I said this already in the Dáil. I ask that this be considered. It would help Dublin in other ways. I also thank the Tánaiste for the work he is doing in evacuating our Irish residents from war-torn countries like Israel, Iraq and Iran. I compliment the Tánaiste on the work being done and thank the Chair for letting me in.