Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the Chamber for what was introduced as a most important matter - so much so that the Government benches are almost empty. Indeed one could say that this is parliamentary party business masquerading as parliamentary business. I thank Ms Siobhan Byrne and all the staff in the passport service and recognise the incredible pressure they are working under.

A number of Senators mentioned the relaxation of the checks and balances relating to children's passports, particularly first-time passports. I would not recommend any easing of those restrictions.Protecting our children is clearly very important and the last thing we want to see when there are difficulties or break-ups in marriages is our children being abducted.

For two years, we have had very limited travel so it does not take a rocket scientist to prepare for what is coming in the next six months. However, this motion is a waste of the Minister's time. It is clearly an echo chamber for this Government on an issue that has already been well thrashed out on "Morning Ireland". I would have understood a motion by the Minister's Fine Gael colleagues on the vulnerability of our nation, on defending our skies or water spaces. I would understand if time were dedicated in this House to explain the champagne jolly in the Minister's Department while loved ones could not say goodbye to those dying in our hospitals. I would have liked the Minister's Fine Gael colleagues to bring in the Minister for Health to speak about children with spina bifida or scoliosis who are awaiting surgery. I would have liked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to come in to address the homeless who are still dying on our streets. The Minister of State, Deputy Malcolm Byrne, has spoken about the digitisation of our data as regards passports. Could the data that was obtained by the Department of Health be used by the Minister's Department in the future? The EU Covid digital pass is still in operation. What role will the Minister's Department have in that, going forward? I look forward to the Minister's comprehensive response on that issue.