Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

People are craving a sense of normality and a feeling of freedom. This is evident from the enthusiasm of the majority to be vaccinated. The issuing of digital green certificates will see thousands travel in the coming weeks. However, it will not bring joy to the thousands more who cannot obtain passports. While the April backlog of 83,000 has been reduced, there remains a minimum eight-week turnaround for online applications. Passport Express remains suspended. I am inundated with contacts from people across County Tipperary who are genuinely in need of a passport. I fully understand and appreciate the pressure under which the Passport Office is working. Staff need practical support and resources to help them cope with a heavy workload. Unless this matter is resolved, there is little point in telling people they can travel with green certificates. Without passports, they remain grounded. What is currently being done to speed up the process of issuing passports?

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