Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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146. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will consider including the renewal reminder on online passport applications instead of the optional sign-up service on the Department's website; if there are plans to further streamline the passport service’s work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15231/25]

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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This question relates to including on online passport applications a renewal reminder rather than the optional sign-up service on the Department's website. We all know the issue this causes with passports. All politicians are inundated with queries about this particular issue. We all know there is a need for streamlining. We know there is an issue with calling Garda stations and gardaí having to go to a book. We need to be able to move beyond all of that. We need a reminder system that works.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Many Members have brought up the issue of engagement with the Garda. We need a memorandum of understanding on and a technological solution to that.

It could be any sort of reminder. A couple of people asked me why it cannot be like the reminder you get for your motor tax. I am not sure that everybody necessarily follows through on that as they should, but we need to make sure that we make it as easy as possible and remind people about it. There is always an informative piece that needs to happen. We need to inform people to check their passports before they book holidays, particularly ones that are just about to run out. We know that people who are travelling to the US and farther afield at times can have an issue where their passports can run out within a six-month period or so.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I would like to see progress on the issue of reminders. I am sure the gardaí would like to see that too, to make the process as efficient as possible for everybody. I will follow up on that directly. I echo the Deputy's request that everybody check their passport. We do our very best at times when people need to travel at short notice. It can happen to anybody for reasons of bereavement or other things. Our systems are quite good at trying to respond in a compassionate way. We continue to strive to do as best we can. For the rest of us who need the passport to go on holiday, the advice is very clear, to please check your passport before you book travel, and do not be that person who has to turn around to a relative and say you forgot to do that or forgot to update the kid's passport, with all the trouble that will bring you.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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It is all right, you can ring a TD.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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So please check your passport. Maybe in that moment of harmony, we can conclude.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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The other issue we have seen brought up is the timeline when there is a mistake. We have all seen people who have made mistakes with the online applications and others who have uploaded photographs and believe that everything is fine, and then it is not. It is as if the clock restarts when a problem occurs. That needs to be addressed.

If the Ceann Comhairle will allow me some flexibility-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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We are out of time.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome what the Tánaiste said about the case of Seán Rooney. The Tánaiste knows that the parents are looking at visiting the court. I ask about the engagement with the UN. I know there has been some sort of preliminary notice. The Tánaiste made contact regarding the information that was looked for by the Dublin coroner and the information that should be provided to the family. It is a matter of making sure all that happens.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I have respect to the sensitivity of the issue. The issue relates to my other Department, the Department of Defence. I am aware that the Department is in direct contact with the Rooney family. We will continue to do that. I made it clear to the Lebanese authorities that the family intends to travel for the trial and it is important that there is real progress. We will keep in touch about the matter.