Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Nov 1999

Vol. 509 No. 6

Written Answers. - Passport Applications.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

46 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the new arrangements put in place in relation to the emergency issuing of passports at night or over weekends; the arrangements and the way in which they have been publicised; and if he accepts that there will be emergencies for people who need passports. [21604/99]

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

73 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of people employed at the Cork passport office; the number of passports issued annually from that office; and whether he will provide for a duty officer to be available so that emergency passports can be issued at night or over weekends. [21605/99]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 73 together.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has long operated a system whereby a diplomatic duty officer is on call outside of normal office hours each day to deal with urgent matters, including the issuing of passports of restricted validity in cases of genuine emergency.

Since June 1999 there is an additional specific passport duty officer service at Iveagh House in Dublin on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sundays and public holidays, except on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This new service is intended to facilitate persons travelling at weekends or on public holidays who have either mislaid their passports or who find at the last moment that they are out of date and who are willing to pay the extra £50 fee that is charged. Persons in genuine emergency situations availing of this service are not charged that fee. The Department's diplomatic duty officer continues to attend to applications for passports after office hours outside of these hours, but only in situations of genuine emergency.

I wrote to all Members of the Oireachtas on 25 June 1999 notifying them of the new arrangements. The Irish Travel Agents Association and the Garda Síochána were also informed about the new service.

The Passport Office in Cork, which caters for persons living in Munster and deals with about 26 per cent of passport applications from within the State, has a permanent staff of 22 but up to 30 additional temporary officers are employed at busy periods. The number of passports issued by that office in the year 31 October 1999 was 89,570.

I am disposed to having a separate duty officer after-hours service at the Cork Passport Office if it can be provided without compromising the security of staff or of the premises. That will require careful consideration and I have asked the Department for proposals.