The Department of Foreign Affairs is calling on the Civil and Public Service Union to suspend its industrial action at the Passport Office in Dublin.

The backlog of passports has now reached almost 50,000 in light of the work to rule action by counter staff.

However the CPSU – which represents Passport Office workers – has served protective strike notice on the Government in response to the threat to dock pay if the action continues.

Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs – David Cooney – says its time to halt the campaign.

“I think the unions have made their points – they’ve made their point very eloquently that they can bring the passport office to a virtual standstill” he said.

“I do not think anything further is to be served by continuing this dispute”.

“I think that the concerns of the Irish people should now take priority and the dispute should be suspended” he added.