Sinn Féin’s Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Trade and Diaspora, Seán Crowe TD, has urged people to check their passports and ensure that they are in date and valid if they intend  to travel abroad this summer.

Crowe said that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has implemented changes to the passport application service and called on the department to implement an awareness campaign about them.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“I would urge anyone who is planning a foreign holiday to check their passport and ensure it is in date and valid.

“To save yourself a lot of anxiety and grief, check you and your family’s passports today. Don’t leave it to the last minute as you may not be able to travel.

“The changes mean that  postal passport applications now have to be submitted through the Passport Express service rather than by ordinary or registered mail.

“From the 30 June applications made through the standard postal service will not be processed and applicants will be advised to resubmit their application using the Passport Express service.

“The main passport office on Molesworth Street in Dublin City is also operating a new appointment system, allowing the booking of an appointment between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday so people do not have to wait in line, but it also means that applicants can no longer just walk-in for an appointment.

“There needs to be a public information campaign throughout the summer, which is prominent in not only traditional media, like newspapers and radio, but also across the web and in social media.”

ENDS