Union head apologises for passport delays

The head of the Civil Public and Services Union (CPSU) is apologising to those facing long delays at the Passport Office in Dublin because of his union's industrial action.

The head of the Civil Public and Services Union (CPSU) is apologising to those facing long delays at the Passport Offices because of his union's industrial action.

Over 300 people are queuing outside the Dublin branch on Molesworth Street whilst around 40 people have begun queuing in Cork, worried that they won't get their paperwork in time to travel.

A work to rule and counter closures have led to a backlog of up to 40,000 applications waiting to be processed.

Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin yesterday called for a suspension of the industrial action, saying his department would instigate disciplinary procedures, including possible docking of pay, against workers who failed to carry out core duties.

General Secretary of the CPSU Blair Horan apologised for the ordeal people are facing, but said the blame lies with the department for their handling of the problem.

"All I can say is I am sorry it has come to this and I am sorry that we had to take a decision to have a dispute in the civil service that has had an impact on the passport office," Mr Horan said.

"We didn't specifically target the passport office… in fairness the Social Welfare and Revenue management have managed those closures in a far better way than the management of Foreign Affairs."