Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will give the example of a young woman in her early 20s who applied for her first passport. She had dealt with a number of tragedies over the previous year. She applied for a passport in January and did everything right as she saw it. The documentation was returned to her in April because the Garda who authorised the form had not filled in the logbook. This was through no fault of the applicant. The documentation was sent back and the woman who was due to travel on Monday was informed as late as last Friday of the position. I engaged with staff in the Tánaiste's office and was told there was nothing they could do. I had to email and text every person I knew in the Department and the Passport Office. In this case, there was a resolution but it was because I happened to be able to contact the right person, to whom I will be eternally grateful. I phoned the Oireachtas helpline and the Passport Office and emailed the Tánaiste's office, all to no avail. There were particular extenuating circumstances in this case, but it is not unique. I have dealt with dozens of cases, and I know other Deputies have dealt with hundreds where documents have been sent back. The applications may not be put to the back of the queue but those involved certainly experience delays as a result of having to resubmit.

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