RONAN FAGAN
There was collective support from elected representatives at the recent sitting of Athlone-Moate Municipal District to issue a letter to the Minister for Foreign Affairs encouraging the implementation of a simple auto renewal/reminder system for all Irish passports six months prior to the travel document’s expiry.
Raising the issue, Cllr Aengus O’Rourke stated that he had received numerous emergency requests from members of the local community who were due to travel abroad but whose passports had unfortunately elapsed.
“This issue is a regular occurrence, particularly from students who are due to travel on school tours, but then suddenly realise that their passport(s ) are out of date prior to their departure. In this instance, I find myself making a number of calls to the Passport Office in the hope of rectifying the situation at hand, many necessitating an in date travel document within a 10 day timeframe which can often prove problematic. I recall that last summer, in particular, was chaotic in this regard.
“Upon reflection I cannot see any reason why the Passport Office cannot issue a reminder to all passport holders within six months of expiry encouraging the renewal of their travel document. I believe that this is a good suggestion for an issue that is certain to arise as we approach holiday season once again,” Cllr O’Rourke stated.
Concurring, Cllr Vinny McCormack noted that the issue was a prevalent request in his capacity as parliamentary assistant to Deputy Robert Troy.
“I witness this issue on a regular basis in Deputy Troy’s Athlone office and I believe that a six month from expiry date reminder issued by the Passport Office would trigger the holder to submit a fresh application for a new travel document. Medical card holders receive a reminder six months in advance of expiry, so I don’t understand why a similar situation cannot apply in this instance,” Cllr McCormack acknowledged.
