Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Ó Murchú for the question. I hope we can share the same view on this across this House. The programme of passport service reform has been very impressive. I was in Balbriggan with Deputy Boland recently. I am very proud of the work being done in the passport office there and in other passport offices. The Passport Office has come through the Covid pandemic and managed to reform the service. I meet a lot of people who are extraordinarily impressed by the speed at which they now get their passport, so go raibh maith agaibh to all those working in the passport service.

The Deputy is right that the reform agenda needs to continue. We are eager that it does. Better streamlining processes and continuing to work more closely with An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice on all of these issues to tease them through is certainly a sensible suggestion. I undertake to specifically raise that issue with the head of the Passport Office and come back to the Deputy directly. I know there has been engagement on how we can make processes work even better. I will be happy to revert to the Deputy on the matter.

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