Individual Post

Sinn Féin Seanadóir Niall Ó Donnghaile has challenged Fianna Fáil to state whether it supports the opening of an Irish passport office in the north. 

 

Seanadóir Ó Donnghaile said: 

"I welcome the calls for additional Passport Office facilities from Fianna Fáil today.

 

"There is no doubt that the stark increase in passport applications from the North warrants an urgent review of services.

 

"Recently the increased demand saw an additional 230 people employed by the Passport Office and the staff there deserve our full respect and appreciation for the hard work they are putting in.

 

"The campaign for any such new facility must be about meeting the logistical, demonstrable need emerging from within the Six Counties.

 

"Any new and indeed much-needed office facility must be located where the increased demand lies.  Does Fianna Fáil support the need for a Passport Office in the Six Counties?

 

"The huge increase in Irish and therefore European passports indicates clearly that there should be special designated status for the North within the EU and the Irish Government should stand with the rest of us in making that case."