Backlog of 90,000 passports can be cleared in weeks - Coveney

Mr Coveney acknowledged that passports were required for many purposes other than travel and as such the Passport Office was an essential service. Picture: Julien Behal

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has said that he expects the backlog in the Passport Office can be cleared within a number of weeks.

Mr Coveney told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland that 430,000 passports had been processed during the pandemic and that as Minister he had responsibility for people working within the Department of Foreign Affairs.