Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

In his contribution, the Taoiseach mentioned his belief that the worst is over. This reiterates the line taken by the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, during his budget speech. However, I cannot see any tangible evidence that the worst is over. The Taoiseach also stated that the Department of Social and Family Affairs will be renamed to become the Department of Social Protection. I made an appeal some weeks ago about a person who has encountered a social welfare difficulty and received a response to the effect that due to industrial action, the office in question was not dealing with queries from elected representatives until further notice. Is this the Department of Social Protection to which the Taoiseach refers? I am disappointed the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Martin, has left the Chamber because I wish to mention the queues extending along Molesworth Street. Although people have an explicit right to travel under the Constitution and under the European Convention on Human Rights, they cannot get a passport. This difficulty did not arise yesterday or last Friday. It has been escalating for the past couple of months. As the Taoiseach and I know, every March, April and May are the peak months during which people seek to have their passports processed.

There is room to manoeuvre under the Passports Act 2008. The Minister could examine the concept of extending the valid period of passports. In section 15 of the Act, reference is made to the issuing of emergency travel documentation. I ask the Taoiseach to have the Minister for Foreign Affairs examine the concept of issuing emergency travel documentation, as it can be done. It just needs political will, but the Government has adopted an approach to the public sector's go-slow of masquerading around as if nothing has occurred. Essential services are being denied to the public, but the issue on Molesworth Street is only the tip of the iceberg. I ask the Taoiseach to do something about the matter, since it will not go away unless the Government acts. However, the Government has stood idly by while the problem escalated.

It has been mentioned that people will miss holidays, but we are also discussing tourism and business, every aspect of life which has been affected. It is not just a matter of someone hoping to visit the Costa del Sol for a week, a football team or young person going on a holiday or a student exchange. It is also about business transactions, commerce and tourism.

The Taoiseach mentioned reinvigoration and a fresh focus. This certainly is not a reinvigoration and it certainly will not provide a fresh focus. I have listened to the Taoiseach's statements in recent months on how the Government has been penalised in the opinion polls because it took the difficult decisions, but the Government is being penalised because it failed to take the difficult decisions.

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