Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response. I acknowledge and laud the staff in the Passport Office as well as those in the Minister's office in respect of their work with difficulties with passports. I recognise the importance of the integrity of the passports.

As public representatives, we all know about the panic that gets into people when their passports go out of date. The difficulty of getting in to Dublin is increasing. The Minister is aware that were it not for the public representatives in this House and the Seanad, many people would not be in a position to avail of many of the services.

The printing of passports takes place in Balbriggan. The Minister referred to the costs involved in providing a satellite service. I believe the service could be provided in a secure environment, possibly at that location. That is why I did not indicate an exact location.

In the past, a direct helpdesk was available to Oireachtas Members. The extension of such a service to all public representatives is desirable. We are dealing with these requests daily and local authority councillors have the same difficulties. The problem is not going to go away and the numbers are going to continue.

I accept that the passport express service is ideal when circumstances are not difficult. Unfortunately, I am referring to cases where circumstances are difficult. The Minister referred to a 15-day turnaround. That is the indication for 2015 turnaround times in the Passport Office. The reality is that in November 2016 the turnaround was seven days because of the lack of pressure. The Minister indicated that there are 230 staff and some temporary staff as well. I believe the Minister is going to have to look at this sooner rather than later. I encourage him to take a further look at it.

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