John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)

I thank the Tánaiste. I compliment the passport staff. The many passport service staff I have dealt with in my role as a TD for the Cork North-West constituency have been very helpful at all times. It is great to see that a new passport office in opening in Cork in the autumn and that there will be additional staff in that office. I know this matter has been brought up locally in my county, Cork, by local representative Councillor Rory Cocking in the Midleton local electoral area, and also by my colleague here in the Oireachtas Senator Eileen Lynch. It is a matter of importance to everybody in Cork to see if we can get a service operating that would be of benefit for all the people of Cork. The challenge is that if an urgent appointment is required, the people of Cork and of Munster have to travel to Dublin for a one-day service appointment to get that urgent passport. That is where the critical issue is.

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