Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Leader to use his good offices to ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide extra resources to the Passport Office which is under extreme pressure, not only at this time of year, but throughout the year, to provide passports in a timely manner. I ask that extra resources be provided because this is an essential service, particularly at this time of year when many people are going on holidays and need passports at short notice.

In that context, I would also ask the Minister to ensure that the Passport Office would do as the motor taxation office does and text people a month or two before their passport expires and to send them a reminder by post. This is not rocket science. People can forget, particularly as passports last for ten years, that their passport is out of date and it is only when they have a journey to make that they become aware that it has expired.

I welcome the comments made today on Seanad reform. As I said last week, everyone here has a part to play in reforming the Seanad. I welcome, in particular, the legislation introduced by Senator McDowell, and my party will be making a contribution to the debate on same. I also welcome other parties making contributions and putting forward motions, particularly as they campaigned vigorously to get rid of this House. If they had their way, the Seanad would not be here to be reformed. In order for the Seanad to remain, there is an obligation on us to reform ourselves and not leave it to others to do so.