Renew passports or face delays - ITAA

PASSPORTS:Travellers who need to renew their passports should do so as soon as possible because of fears of escalating industrial action, it has been claimed.

Members of the Civil and Public Services Union (CPSU) targeted the passport offices in Dublin and Cork yesterday and both offices only operated a half day.

The newly elected president of the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA) Pat Dawson said that “noises from public service unions in recent weeks make us worried”.

Dawson, the managing director of Dawson Travel in Cork, told delegates at the ITAA conference in the Carlton Hotel Dublin Airport this week that people whose passports are due for renewal may be the victims of escalating industrial action by the CPSU, which represents civil servants with clerical and administrative grades.

CPSU members have been closing offices such as the Passport Office at lunchtime as part of their campaign against Government pay cuts, but yesterday marked an escalation.

They also refused to answer phones in the Passport offices yesterday afternoon.

Pat Dawson said he feared that the CPSU would escalate its actions in recent weeks and if gardaí refused to sign passport application forms, it would lead to a “double whammy”.

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) has already indicated that refusing to validate passport forms may be part of its industrial action against the Government.

The tactic is likely to be discussed at the GRA annual conference in April.

“Travel agents are advising their clients to check their passport expiry date now. You should get your photos and an application signed by your local garda sooner rather than later,” Dawson added.

He also warned that the traditional rush to get passports before the summer-holiday season might be even more pronounced this year.

“With the risk of industrial action looming that advice is more important,” he said.

Dawson also promised in his year of office to bring complaints from passengers to the attention of airlines, ferry companies, tour operators, hoteliers and public bodies.

“I will not mince my words and I’ll go public on bad service when it is needed. Travel agents are the consumers’ watchdog,” he said.