THE new online Irish passport renewal service has been welcomed by the SDLP's Sinead Bradley whose late father was involved in significant work on passport applications being made north of the border.
The south Down assembly member said she was "delighted" that the process had been launched, which will allow Irish citizens to renew their passport books and cards online.
The new initiative is part of the Irish government's passport reform programme, which aims to modernise passport systems and controls.
It comes less than a month after the death of her father PJ Bradley, a former SDLP MLA. He passed away following a short illness, aged 76.
"This announcement comes just weeks after the passing of my father PJ Bradley, who in 2002 was instrumental in setting up a scheme to allow people from the north of the island to apply for an Irish passport via local post office counters," she said.
"I am delighted to see this process has now been brought into the digital era and hopefully will make the renewal process easier for many."
She added: "I am keen however to ensure the Post Office services are safeguarded for new application processes and for those customers who, for a host of reasons, are not be able to engage in digital services".
