THE ALREADY volatile atmosphere inside and outside of the Passport Office in Dublin threatened to boil over yesterday when word got round that urgent travel applications were not being prioritised as indicated by the Civil Public and Services Union yesterday.
Many had turned up the night before and early yesterday morning to endure lengthy waits on the basis of assurances that emergency passport provision was being extended beyond the criteria of bereavement and serious illness to cover immediate travel. But when it became clear no such process had been adopted, frayed tempers flared.
Several people angrily confronted security personnel and office staff at the entrance to the Molesworth Street building, demanding to know on what basis applications were being processed and if there was any point in queuing.
One man inside the office took his protest a step further and chained himself to one of the large brass door handles on an internal door, insisting he would not leave without his passport. A visibly exhausted Colin Gillick from Wicklow had queued for 12 hours since Tuesday night to get a passport so he could travel to a wedding in Thailand on Monday.
When two gardaí arrived and reluctantly informed him he would be arrested and charged if he did not unchain himself, he said: “I’m standing up for my rights. I’ve done nothing wrong.”
The tense stand-off was defused a short time later when Mr Gillick was issued with a slip to collect his passport tomorrow.
But for many others long hours queuing proved fruitless. One man, who did not wish to be named, said he had queued for several hours for a passport for his three-year-old daughter who is due to be a flower girl at his brother’s wedding in Glasgow on Sunday. “The woman at the counter just told me my daughter’s passport would not be ready for collection until April 9th. My plans are in disarray.”
While some voiced frustration at the industrial action being taken by workers in the current economic climate, many appeared more annoyed by the lack of a plan to deal with the queues.
Many were angry that people there to collect passports were being made to queue with others who were just applying. “This is madness. If they have to do this, why can’t they at least organise the queue? Nobody knows if there is any point being here or whether they will be served when they get to the top,” one woman said.
But a sympathetic security guard claimed there was nothing he could do: “We don’t have sufficient space in the building to accommodate all these people.”
When it emerged the union had served notice of protective strike action, many queuing outside reacted as if the news was unconnected to their plight so intent were they on trying to access the building. Brian Genockey, from Glasthule, Dublin, said: “Personally, I’d prefer them to strike. Then at least I’d know where I stand.”
Mr Genockey was endeavouring to get passports for his newborn twins so they could be christened in Florence on Sunday in the presence of his Italian in-laws. He said he had queued for more than five hours, only to be told he was at the wrong counter. After a further two hours, he was informed he would have to wait for information on his applications to be updated on the office’s website.
“I’ve waited seven hours for a bit of information that could have been given to me straight away when I arrived her this morning with a megaphone.”
By mid-afternoon, long queues had lessened but the frustration had not. Aisling Stenson, from Dublin, who is due to fly to Spain tomorrow only realised on Tuesday her three-year-old son Brian’s passport was out of date. “I don’t think anybody should be on strike given the way the country has gone. I have no sympathy for them.”
Somewhat lost amid the angry tales of long waits and dashed travel plans were the feelings of staff themselves. Was their resolve as strong as the union claimed? Several people emerging from the office said those manning the counters inside were visibly upset at the public anger being levelled at them.
One man said a worker had told him staff were “extremely concerned” by the level of disruption being caused, and in particular by the lack of information that was being provided to the public.
To make matters worse, the office was damaged by flooding earlier this month and staff were said to be working in cramped conditions while maintenance work goes on around them.
Union spokeswoman Theresa Dwyer admitted staff were working under “huge pressure”. Many were anxious due to the focus on the office but she insisted their resolve was undiminished.
Tony Stephens from Bray, Co Wicklow, who was attempting to get a passport for his son who is due to go on a school trip to Austria tomorrow, summed it up: “It’s a bit like blocking a road. You don’t know the knock-on effects or personal dramas it can cause.”
