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ONE third of all
applications to TDs and senators by people looking
for a fast-tracked passport are from Donegal, new
figures show.
The statistics show that among the most frequent
users of the special facility for Oireachtas members
were former minister Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher and
current Tanaiste Mary Coughlan.
The figures were obtained under the Freedom of
Information Act by the Sunday Times newspaper. An
analysis of one month's figures from June 9, 2005
onwards, showed that Gallagher made 93 applications
on behalf of constituents while Coughlan made 88.
Other public representatives to use the service to
get quick passports for their constituents were
Deputy Dinny McGinley at 19 applications and now
Deputy Joe McHugh, at 17. The scheme which allows
people to skip the two-week wait at the passport
office is currently being reviewed by the Department
of Foreign Affairs. Gallagher has defended the
scheme saying people usually only requested a quick
passport in "extenuating" circumstances such as a
family sickness or sudden death abroad or when a
parent had to get an individual passport for a child
- the law no longer allows a child to be named on
their parents' passport. |
