Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

There is no legislation promised. My great regret in this matter is that the Passport Office has in the past been an excellent example of the provision of a good public service. An industrial relations issue has arisen and the only way it can be resolved is to see the action stopped. The impact this is having on the public is absolutely disproportionate to the issues being raised. A forum has been established on my initiative to ensure all issues like this can be dealt with in current discussions.

For everybody interested in the public service and in respect to any concerns or aspirations public servants have, ordinary public servants know why the Government had to take the decisions it took in December. The issue for today and over the coming weeks is to deal with the backlog that has emerged as a result of the action. The only way the backlog can be resolved is to lift the action of not co-operating with the employment of seasonal staff that could be brought in to deal with the matter and stop the refusal to do overtime, which would normally be available. There are many seasonal fluctuations in the number of passports being sought at a given time of the year, with Easter and the summer being the busiest times.

I ask that common sense prevail and people enable temporary staff to be taken on to deal with the backlog to try to get back to a proper service for people who need it. It concerns people who may not be in a position of life and death but who need this service in the normal course of events. I acknowledge that in the past we have seen that staff in the passport office are good, committed public servants who have provided a good service. We need to get back to that position and the only way to deal with the matter is to have the union lift the stipulation not to co-operate with seasonal staff, should they be brought in, and allow overtime to be provided. That is how to get the position back to normal as quickly as possible.

With regard to other matters, there is a forum and facilitation taking place and discussions are ongoing. Issues can be dealt with like so and cannot be dealt with in any other forum.

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