Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

People in the south would prefer to travel out of Shannon or Cork airports, and we want to see the development of the Port of Cork. In the event of an emergency passport being needed, however, the Minister of State is saying they will have to travel all the way to Dublin, get their emergency passport and come back, doubling their journey. In normal circumstances, people want to have a service in their own area. There is already a passport office in Cork. The Minister of State is from the regions. He understands the idea of having local services and balanced regional development. Surely this sends out a strong statement to people in the regions that they can have the full service and that they are not in the second position.

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