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24/03/2010
Passport Strike 'Amendment' Welcomed
An 'amendment' to the nature of strike action by protesting staff at the Passport Office has been welcomed this morning.
Staff at the office, which distributes Ireland's passports, have been refusing to deal with the public directly as part of ongoing wage disputes, leading to the build up of huge queues.
However, last night worker's union CPSU said it would 'amend' their industrial action to give priority to those with immediate travel plans.
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore welcomed the news saying he hoped the changes announced would ease the "serious difficulties encountered over recent days" and that families who have spent considerable sums of money on planned trips abroad will now be able to get away.
"It is important that the management at the Passport Office should now also address the issues that are within its area of responsibility including the availability of passport printing machines, management of queues at the office and public information about the situation in Molesworth St.
"I hope that this development will also help the progress of talks between the government and the public sector unions and that they will be brought to a successful conclusion."
Later today, the head of the Passport Office is to appear before an Oireachtas Committee today to discuss the chaos at the Dublin office.
Joe Nugent will attend the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee, which has been called to try to find a way to solve the impasse.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin called for suspension of the action, saying this was the only realistic way to clear the backlog of passport applications.
(DW/BMcC)
Staff at the office, which distributes Ireland's passports, have been refusing to deal with the public directly as part of ongoing wage disputes, leading to the build up of huge queues.
However, last night worker's union CPSU said it would 'amend' their industrial action to give priority to those with immediate travel plans.
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore welcomed the news saying he hoped the changes announced would ease the "serious difficulties encountered over recent days" and that families who have spent considerable sums of money on planned trips abroad will now be able to get away.
"It is important that the management at the Passport Office should now also address the issues that are within its area of responsibility including the availability of passport printing machines, management of queues at the office and public information about the situation in Molesworth St.
"I hope that this development will also help the progress of talks between the government and the public sector unions and that they will be brought to a successful conclusion."
Later today, the head of the Passport Office is to appear before an Oireachtas Committee today to discuss the chaos at the Dublin office.
Joe Nugent will attend the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee, which has been called to try to find a way to solve the impasse.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin called for suspension of the action, saying this was the only realistic way to clear the backlog of passport applications.
(DW/BMcC)
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23 March 2010
Striking Passport Staff Face Pay Threat
The Department of Foreign Affairs is threatening employees at the Passport Office with non-payment of their wages if they refuse to operate public counters today.
Striking Passport Staff Face Pay Threat
The Department of Foreign Affairs is threatening employees at the Passport Office with non-payment of their wages if they refuse to operate public counters today.
28 May 2010
Passport Talks 'Making Progress'
The Labour Relations Court has revealed progress has been made during the talks to resolve the ongoing passport dispute. Talks to resolve the dispute at the Passport Office in Dublin are expected to resume later this morning at the Labour Relations Court (LRC) who stepped into the debate yesterday.
Passport Talks 'Making Progress'
The Labour Relations Court has revealed progress has been made during the talks to resolve the ongoing passport dispute. Talks to resolve the dispute at the Passport Office in Dublin are expected to resume later this morning at the Labour Relations Court (LRC) who stepped into the debate yesterday.
24 July 2013
Two Arrested In Passport Fraud Investigation
Gardaí have arrested two employees of the Passport Office, as part of a joint investigation with the Department of Foreign Affairs into passport fraud. An internal Passport Office investigation was begun in May following the discovery of irregularities in two passports being issued.
Two Arrested In Passport Fraud Investigation
Gardaí have arrested two employees of the Passport Office, as part of a joint investigation with the Department of Foreign Affairs into passport fraud. An internal Passport Office investigation was begun in May following the discovery of irregularities in two passports being issued.
10 August 2016
Govt Urged To Open Irish Passport Office In Belfast
The government has been urged to open an Irish passport office in Belfast to meet the unprecedented demand. Making the call, Dublin South West TD, Seán Crowe, said there were 46,257 applications from the North between January and July this year, an increase of 18.85 % on last year.
Govt Urged To Open Irish Passport Office In Belfast
The government has been urged to open an Irish passport office in Belfast to meet the unprecedented demand. Making the call, Dublin South West TD, Seán Crowe, said there were 46,257 applications from the North between January and July this year, an increase of 18.85 % on last year.
28 June 2016
Entitlements To Irish Passport 'Will Not Change' - Flanagan
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, has reassured UK passport holders entitled to an Irish passport that those "entitlements will not change", following the UK's decision to leave the European Union.
Entitlements To Irish Passport 'Will Not Change' - Flanagan
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, has reassured UK passport holders entitled to an Irish passport that those "entitlements will not change", following the UK's decision to leave the European Union.
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