Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I have recently had reason to visit twice the Passport Office on Molesworth Street and I congratulate the officials for a very efficient operation there. It was announced two or three years ago in Britain that passports could not be handed out to British citizens unless two months' notice was given because the technology was too much for its passport office. My only disappointment here was that when my photograph was being taken, I was told not to smile by a very diplomatic usher. Why does that rule exist? Irish people like to be seen to be smiling when they go around the world.

We are trying to be recognised as a high-tech country. In recent years, we have put microchips into our passports which are very efficient. I was stunned to discover that 5,900 passports were stolen last year, while 33,000 Irish passports went missing. With modern technology, this microchip can be detected in every passport control around the world so that the missing or stolen passport is identified when passing through. That would provide the opportunity for Irish technology to be recognised as leading edge. Radio frequency identification, or RFID, exists for products in supermarkets, so it is certainly possible to do it for passports as well. I congratulate the Passport Office and the Department of Foreign Affairs, but I urge them to go a little further.

Senators O'Toole and Mansergh raised the issue of the importation of products that could well be produced in Ireland. The solution to the issue is in our hands and those of customers. Some customers refuse to buy products that have what we call "food miles" on them, products that have travelled many miles and have what we call a "carbon footprint" because of the carbon emissions as a result of bringing the product from the far side of the world.

The solution is in our hands. We do not have to pass laws to solve the issue. Customers can say they want a fresh product and producers who label their produce with the names and addresses of the farmers producing the product will give the edge to their produce. This sort of labelling will give those products an edge and lead. I urge all producers to do the same rather than let us ask Government to interfere and pass a law. We should leave the issue to customers and the marketplace and the issue will be solved.