The Irish Passport Service was recognized for its outstanding achievement with the World Class Civil Service award at the Civil Service Excellence and Innovation Awards at Dublin Castle in November.
The award was made in respect of the Online Passport Renewal Project, which saw launch of the online passport application system in March.
The service means that Irish citizens renewing their passport can do so online anywhere in the world, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week and with no requirement for forms, witnesses, or printed photos. It is one of the first fully online passport renewal services in Europe and since the launch, more than 100,000 citizens have already been issued with passports through the online system. Processing time for an online application is 10 days plus postage time, with no requirement for forms, witnesses, or printed photos.
“I am very proud to say that the Passport Service continues to perform very strongly in delivering excellent customer service to Irish citizens across the word,” Simon Coveney T.D. (above), Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and newly-appointed Tánaiste, said at the awards. “This award is a reflection of that excellent service, while also demonstrating the innovation, dedication and enthusiasm of staff in my Department to deliver a world class service.” ♦
Irish Passport Service Wins World Class Civil Service Award
Simon Coveney T.D. Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and newly-appointed Tánaiste. (Photo: DFA)
On recalls that Retired Marine Corps Colonel Oliver North is reported to have used an Irish passport while collecting information on potential enemies of the U.S. overseas. The passport was apparent obtained surreptitiously.