Passport office closures spark rush

THE passport offices in Cork and Dublin were inundated with members of the public yesterday morning trying to apply for or collect their new passports before industrial action closed the offices in the afternoon.

The action by public servants in closed 64 social welfare and passport offices from 1pm.

While the staff remained in work – meaning technically they were not on strike – members of the public could not get through to them in person or by phone.