Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On the subject of travel, I might extend that. This morning, like colleagues here, I attended a presentation in the AV room by the Passport Office. I compliment and thank the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, for arranging that presentation. It was worthwhile and, indeed, timely because from now on is the time of year when many think of taking a break or going abroad for a holiday to recharge the batteries. The key message that came from the staff of the Passport Office, whom I compliment for their good work, was the request to ask people to check before they book. That is the most important sentence that came out of it. We all know of cases, and many Members are contacted on a daily basis, where people have booked a holiday two weeks or less before they are due to go, only to discover that one of their passports is out of date. We all know the anxiety that particular experience causes people.

As the House will be aware, we have two passport offices in this country - one in Dublin and one in Cork. Unfortunately, as with many services, if one draws a line from Dublin to Galway, they are non-existent north of that line. The Passport Office is yet another example of that. At a time when we are experiencing a rise in the number of applications from Northern Ireland due to Brexit, it is timely that we would look again at locating a sub-office to cater for the northern half of the country. A location such as Monaghan or Cavan would be ideal from a geographic perspective because if one lives in north Derry or north Donegal and has to travel to Dublin, it is a four and a half hour journey. It is timely that we should do that. I ask the Leader to ask the Tánaiste to come in to the Chamber so that we can discuss this issue.

Another simple possible solution to avoid this issue of passports going out of date - the Tánaiste might intervene here - would be if the travel agents and airlines would have a precondition that before accepting a booking they would have to ensure that the passport is in date. A further simple solution would be that the Passport Office would contact individuals, perhaps six months in advance, to advise them of their passport going out of date. It could save travellers a great deal of stress and annoyance. In summary, I ask the Leader to ask the Tánaiste to come to the Chamber to have a discussion on this issue.