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

The real issue with first-time passport applications is the time before processing starts on them at all. There could be some issue with the application but the application rests untouched with nothing happening with it. After approximately five or six weeks, somebody identifies there is an issue, highlights it with the family, the application comes back again and time is lost before processing gets under way. It is the issue of getting to the starting line.

The Minister outlined there will be emergency appointments available. Will he clarify that they will also be available at the Cork office to ensure people can go and have their applications reviewed to make sure, even before they start at all, that everything is in order and they are presenting immediately at the starting line, as it were and not five or six weeks behind?

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