Minister Ahern Launches New DFA Website

Minister Ahern Launches New DFA Website

Passport Application Tracking and Travel Advice Available On Line

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermot Ahern T.D., today launched a new, more user-friendly website for the Department of Foreign Affairs at www.dfa.ie 

The main features of the site include:

Ø      Passport application tracking service. Members of the public can track the progress of their Passport Application using the barcode number on their application form or receipt from the Passport Office or Passport Express.

Ø      Regularly updated advice on travel abroad is given on a country by country basis

Ø      Accessible and up-to-date information on all aspects of Ireland’s foreign policy

Ø      A facility for visitors to subscribe to RSS Feeds of major topics.

Ø      User-friendly email contact form.

Launching the new website, Minister Ahern said: “New information technologies offer tremendous potential for promoting Ireland abroad and for improving the delivery of Government services to the Irish people.  Our re-designed website will inform people in Ireland and abroad about the full range of services provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs.  It also sets out, in clear terms, details of our policies on the main international issues.  I welcome all visitors to our new site which will become the principal source of public information about the Department of Foreign Affairs.”

Note to editors:

After an open procurement competition, BT Ireland was awarded the contract to redesign the Department’s website.  BT Ireland also developed the award winning Presidency website prior to Ireland’s Presidency of the EU in 2004.

ENDS +++                                                                 

18 December 2006

Press Office