Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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On consular services, the decision was made last year to close some embassies, and cost was clearly a factor in that decision. Is the Department on track to secure the savings anticipated when that decision was taken? I have similar concerns to those expressed by Deputy Mitchell in regard to the 18% of passport applications that are not completed within the ten day period. When people submit applications through that process, they expect they will have their passports within the defined period. Has the Tánaiste any information on why those delays occur and how the system could be improved, notwithstanding the fact that there have been huge improvements in the passport service in recent years?

The certificate of Irish heritage is an excellent initiative and there have been some high profile presentations this year, which did the initiative no harm. Are there any plans to use other innovative ideas to promote this initiative further this year?