Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The number of passport applications coming in from the North just goes to show the need for a passport office in the Six Counties. I ask the Minister, the Department and the Government to look at that need.

As for the Minister's comments about a new passport office in Cork, I suggest that if it is not to be in the city centre, it be on the northside. The reason for that is that a study we did a number of years ago with a Labour Party council at the time, under Michael Ahern, in Cork, showed that there were over 30 Government agencies on the southside of the city and only six or seven on the northside. If there is to be further investment, it should be balanced.

Lastly, we are in the middle of the holiday season now. Everything should be done not to allow any more people to miss their flights or their holidays. Once again, I thank the Minister and the staff at the Passport Service because I recognise the tremendous pressure they are under and that they are doing their best. We just need to give them all the support they need.

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