Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Let me first deal with the passports issue. In 2012, a total of 631,947 passports were issued, which was an increase of 5.4% over the 2011 figures. The highest increase was 8% in the number of passports for children over three and under 18 years of age.

People who apply under the passport express service are given a commitment by the service that a passport will be issued within ten days of the receipt of properly completed applications. Last year, 83% of all persons applying for a passport used the passport express service. I stated earlier that 81% of passports are issued within ten days, while 92% are issued within 12 days and 99% are issued within 15 days. The main reason for the current delay in a passport not being issued within the ten days - I know there were some difficulties in the middle of last year - is usually that there is some complication with the application and it has to be referred back.

Great care has to be given to issuing a passport for a variety of reasons, especially when applications are for passports for children. Considerable care has to be taken to ensure there is not anything untoward. As Deputy Byrne has pointed out, there have been a few occasions when forgery of Irish passports has occurred. We have improved the security standard on the passport, with the use of biometrics and so on. We are in the process of designing a new passport book which will improve the security features of the passport even further.

The issue of cost was raised by Deputy Smith. The cost for a standard passport is currently €95. There is an administrative fee of €55 for adults and €30 for minors in cases where a passport is required within five working days, but that fee can be waived in cases of serious illness or health. Emergency passports are issued but only in circumstances where the passport service is satisfied, on the basis of the application and supporting evidence, that the proposed journey is related to death, serious injury or illness abroad of a close relative or a medical emergency relating to the applicant himself or herself, and that the need to travel has arisen at short notice. We encourage people to ensure that their passport is up to date, especially when making travel plans. Much work has been done on that. We have also moved to an appointment system in the passport office in Molesworth Street which is working very well. People can telephone and make an appointment and this avoids the queueing.

The issue of consular services was raised by a number of Deputies. The type of consular activity carried out by the Department relates to cases where a death has occurred, where somebody has been killed - unfortunately we have had a number of high profile cases - where somebody is seriously injured, and where somebody is arrested and gets into trouble with the law for one reason or another. The embassies and the consulates assist families in those cases. We have many cases where people who have been arrested are visited by embassy officials when they have medical needs or need access to lawyers and so on. It is very time-consuming work and it occupies a big part of what we do. This kind of work arises most often in Spain and Australia comes after that. The bulk of the consular work arises in countries where there is either a high holiday component or where there is a high number of young Irish people.