Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to address delays in the passport office as a result of ongoing industrial action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13403/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, customers have been experiencing disruption to passport services as a result of ongoing industrial action in the public service. The industrial action has led to a backlog of over 50,000 passport applications in the system and the application turnaround time is currently 15 to 20 working days. As a result, the Department advises it is not possible to fast-track any application other than in a case of genuine family emergency, in which case proof will be required that travel is necessitated by the death, illness or welfare of a family member. The issuing of passports in such emergencies is not affected by the industrial dispute. Furthermore, the public counters and out-of-hours services should only be used by those who have a necessity to travel for reasons of family emergency.

In the circumstances,customers are advised to check the expiry dates of passports before making any overseas travel plans and to apply in sufficient time so the new passport can be received before the intended date of travel. In response to the industrial action, the Department has temporarily suspended the requirement that applicants submit their existing passport with their application for a new passport. Where the current passport has not yet fully expired, customers may include a photocopy of the personal details pages of the current passport with their application for a new passport.

Clearly the current circumstances, whereby so many of our citizens are experiencing intolerable delays, is not acceptable. However, they will not ease until normal work practices are resumed. The passport business is seasonal throughout the world and every service must rely on the recruitment of seasonal workers and overtime. Until the current restrictions in these areas are overcome, the passport service will continue to struggle with the timely provision of passports for Irish citizens.

Without the normal flexibility, which has characterised the passport service in the past, it is simply not possible to provide these functions. I am calling on the CPSU to resume normal working arrangements as soon as possible, particularly now that there was a conclusion to the public sector talks early this morning in Croke Park under the chairmanship of Mr. Kieran Mulvey.

Following this morning's agreement, there are clear grounds for ending the current industrial action. Should this occur, my Department will move immediately to eliminate the backlog of passport applications by facilitating overtime, redeploying staff to ease bottlenecks in the process and recruiting temporary staff. With the co-operation of staff, who, let us not forget, made the passport service the efficient, customer-friendly service it was before this dispute, we can soon again have a service to be proud of.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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If the Minister expects normal working practices to resume, when does he believe this will occur? Although I am aware the number of passport machines in operation is immaterial to the difficulties currently being experienced, will the Minister tell me the number of machines nationally and their work status?

The KPMG report on the passport office, issued in 2008, requested that a value-for-money review be carried out on the passport service. It recommended also that the office consider the concept of outsourcing the facility. The services of some countries, including Denmark and The Netherlands, and part of the British service are outsourced to private companies. Has the Minister considered this option? Has he had any discussions with a view to permitting our European colleagues to facilitate Irish passport holders whose passports may be out of date? What is the legal position on airlines that request a passport for travel to Britain? I am bearing Air Ryan in mind.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ryanair.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Air Ryan, Ryanair - maybe it is a subliminal Freudian slip.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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What was the Deputy's question?

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It is on the legality of airlines requesting passports.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I refer to the question before that.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Minister is very hard on me. I am like Patrick Kavanagh in that I knew at the time I was writing it. To see it on paper-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is on the record in that case.

As I said in my opening remarks, I call on the CPSU to call off the action immediately. We concluded the public sector talks that were under way at Croke Park. In that context, there is every reason for the union to instruct its members to call off the action. If this happened, we could return to normal activity within a matter of days.

The key issue for us would be to recruit the temporary staff. We have sanctioned the recruitment of up to 50 people. There are 50 people who could have jobs, albeit temporary, in the coming days and weeks if the action were suspended. This would benefit all those seeking passports and help get rid of the backlog. Overtime would also be available. There has been a ban on overtime in recent months. Overtime would help eliminate the backlog relatively quickly and assist in returning to the turnaround times for which the passport service was known. The passport service had a very good record prior to the industrial dispute.

With regard to the KPMG report, a value-for-money audit was carried out. As part thereof, it was recommended that a review of the question of outsourcing take place. That review is under way. That will not deal with the current issues or backlog. The review recommended in the value-for-money audit commenced prior to the industrial action.

Outsourcing gives rise to issues, principally security issues, as referred to in a previous parliamentary question. We will await the outcome of the review and inform the Deputy and House of the results.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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How many passport machines are there nationally? Did the Minister seek any agreement with our EU colleagues such that the life of existing passports of Irish citizens could be extended so those citizens could travel within the European Union? What is the position on airlines requesting passports for travel to Britain?

While I agree with the Minister that the passport office has provided an excellent service, what has happened in the past few weeks is outrageous. What has happened in the past few weeks is outrageous. Will the Minister confirm when the review by the office that is looking into the concept of outsourcing, actually commenced?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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We have about three specialised machines that are, for security reasons, unique to the country from the viewpoint of manufacture. Contingency planning is involved in the event of breakdown or whatever.

In terms of extending the validity of all existing passports, again there are standards with regard to international travel documents which limit passports to ten years, and therefore it is not possible to provide such an extension. The key issue in that regard was acceptability in the US and elsewhere. There were extensive negotiations, too, with the airlines, including Ryanair, but its security considerations did not facilitate matters. It said it could not waive the security arrangements it has in place to accommodate, for example, travel to Britain. That was a matter it had to take on board in terms of its security policy.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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When did the review commence?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It was some time back. I can get the exact date for the Deputy and I do not have a date for conclusion, as yet.