Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 361: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of passports that were routed through members of Dáil Éireann in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6526/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Passport applications forwarded by members of the Oireachtas (Dáil and Seanad) are processed by a section of the passport office. This section also processes applications forwarded by, for instance, the Health Services Executive for children in their care. In 2007, and following further checking of our records, a total of 6,326 applications were identified as having been processed through this section. Applications through Oireachtas Members (Dáil and Seanad) were recorded manually over the years. However, in order to be able to better facilitate future queries on this issue, a system has now been put in place to record electronically details of applications by Members of the Oireachtas (Dáil and Seanad) or their offices.