Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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36. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of passport waiting lists (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12200/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Passport Service provides a range of channels to Irish citizens wishing to apply for a passport. These include a postal application system, an award winning online passport application service, in person counter application facilities in Dublin and Cork and the network of Irish Missions worldwide. The turnaround timeframe for a passport application will depend, in the first instance, on the channel through which the application was submitted.

From 1 January – 14 March, the Passport Service received over 198,000 applications in total, an increase of 7% on the same period last year. The highest proportion of applications are submitted through the Passport Express postal channel. The average turnaround time for renewal applications submitted through An Post Passport Express currently stands at 16 working days.

The target turnaround time for applications made via the online passport application service is 10 working days plus postage. The vast majority of online applications are currently being processed within 7 working days, well ahead of target. At present, the online service only accommodates adult renewals and passport card applications. It is planned to further extend the online passport application service to all renewals by the end of 2018. This award winning service will continue to make a major contribution to the effective management of exceptionally high application volumes. I would urge applicants wishing to renew their passports, whether residing in Ireland or overseas, to avail of the online passport application service where possible.

The Passport Service operates an appointment service in both the Dublin (Mount Street) and Cork offices where applicants who need their passport application processed in timeframes shorter than those offered by the Passport Express and online facility.

The Passport Service is doing everything possible to reduce the processing times for all types of application and to assist people as far as possible that are travelling soon. I am pleased to say that over 20 permanent staff have recently joined the Passport Service to address the increased demand for passports from Irish citizens worldwide. Further, the Passport Service is also this year employing over 220 temporary clerical officers to assist in processing applications during peak season.

The Department currently has a dedicated channel of communication for Oireachtas representatives. Owing to the pressure on the Passport Service’s resources, it has been necessary to centralise the Passport Service’s functions, including communication channels, to ensure resources are used effectively and accordingly, my office is the dedicated point of contact for public representatives. This ensures consistency, efficiency and fairness in responses to the queries of all public representatives. Any passport-related queries raised through this channel are dealt with without delay.

In all cases, applicants should not book travel until in possession of a valid passport and should allow plenty of time for a passport to issue in case any problems with the application arise in the course of processing. I am grateful to Deputies for their continued assistance in advising constituents to visit the Passport Service’s webpage on my Department’s website (www.dfa.ie/passport) before applying, and to sign up for our passport renewal reminder service at

www.eforms.gov.ie/en/reminder/passport/

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent)
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37. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent of State agency efforts to promote trade with Russia and Iran; and his views on whether all contact with Russia should be ceased due to its ongoing atrocities in Ghouta. [12265/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Irish Embassy in Moscow, working with the state agencies, continues to raise awareness of Ireland as an attractive investment location and to support Irish companies present in Russia and those seeking to explore new market opportunities there. In December, I co-chaired the 11th meeting of the Ireland-Russia Joint Economic Commission in Dublin, where we discussed opportunities to promote bilateral trade and investment and advance cooperation in a number of sectors. Last month Pat Breen, Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, led an Enterprise Ireland trade visit to Moscow.

Both Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia cover Iran from their Dubai offices and visit the country regularly. Both have organised trade missions in the past year. Shannon Development and the Irish Aviation Authority have also visited Iran in relation to particular sectors. The Irish Ambassador in Ankara has also visited Iran frequently, working both bilaterally and in cooperation with the state agencies to assist Irish companies exploring opportunities there.

In common with our European partners, Ireland supports the EU strategy of maintaining dialogue with Russia on issues of mutual interest. It is important that the EU engages with Russia on key global challenges such as migration, climate change, combatting terrorism, as well as regional conflicts, but only where it clearly contributes to a relationship with a Russia that is committed to the rule of law and international standards.

I also believe that maintaining dialogue and contact at national level with countries with whom we do not always agree is not only necessary, but is the very essence of Ireland’s approach to foreign policy. Our concerns over Russia’s actions in Syria and Ukraine impacts on the nature of such cooperation, but we believe it is important to keep channels of communication open and to develop our trade relations in the areas and sectors where trade is still possible. Trade relations, and promotion of Irish trade, is not a reward for good behaviour. It is a priority activity to support Irish jobs and livelihoods.