Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I agree. It is not to ridicule the staff because they are quite good. It is a Department with which I have a lot of engagement, unfortunately, but it is generally not its fault. In the age of technology we live in, surely we can devise a system whereby if a garda signs a passport photograph, he can hit a button and put the application number of the form on the system to say he signed it. We do not need a record or phone calls. It is there, just like the Tánaiste is saying with the birth certificates. That is something we might look at.

I do not know if the Tánaiste is aware but if Deputy Carthy is meeting representatives of the Passport Office he should be aware there is a big issue with the tracker. It is not working. We were advised yesterday again that there are problems. I know of someone whose passport was due on 9 May on the tracker. They have no problems yet they have not received the passport. The tracker is a big issue that needs addressing.

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