Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

I wish the Minister and the Minister of State every success in their positions.

However, the Minister has outlined the rationale for the transfer of functions. The Department has generally managed the passport service well. In many countries the foreign affairs Department or its equivalent manages passport services and that should continue here.

What is the current processing time for a passport? What contingency plans will the Minister put in place to either protect or improve the processing time pending the transfer of services to the Department of Justice and Law Reform? In advance of the busy summer season, how many additional staff does he intend to allocate to the Passport Office? When will they take up office? What impact will they have on processing times?

With regard to the cases of abuse of Irish passports last year, what is the current status of the investigation within the Department? Have other sanctions been taken, apart from those publicised? Does the Minister plan to restore the facility to this House whereby Members can assist their constituents to acquire passports in difficult circumstances? I support Deputy Ring's many calls for the location of a passport office on the west coast.

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