Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

My passport stands as it is. I would not need to use a diplomatic passport. Will the Minister of State explain the role of a diplomatic passport? It does not get one through the airport any faster or allow one jump the queue. It is fine to use one if we are acting in our capacity as officials or Oireachtas Members and are on official business, but why would we want to use one if we were not on official business? I would not want to use one in that situation. Anybody not on official business who chooses to use a diplomatic passport is out of order. Perhaps some people would make up a reason to use it. I could pretend I was going to visit a third world country on behalf of the Minister and use it, even though I was not on official or authorised business, but I would not do so. Perhaps the Minister of State could clarify the issue. The bottom line is we are either on official business or we are not.