asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether a Member of either House of the Oireachtas will be accepted as a guarantor on a passport application form; and, if so, why a statement to that effect is not contained in the directions on the form.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Issue of Passports.
10.
As I indicated in reply to a question on the 4th May, passport applications outside the Dublin Garda metropolitan area are, for reasons of administrative convenience, at present made through local Garda stations. As I then indicated, I am having the present system of applications examined to see whether any amendments could be introduced without imparing the present efficiency of Passport Office procedures. The Passport Office staff have been accustomed to deal flexibly with applications from persons from the Dublin Garda metropolitan area who have not secured a guarantor from one of the groups listed on the application form and a Member of either House of the Oireachtas would be accepted as a guarantor.
11.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs why an applicant for a passport is required to state the address of destination, the purpose of journey and the approximate date of return having regard to the fact that a passport is issued for a period of five years and may be used for several foreign visits for varying purposes; and if alterations will be made in the questions put to applicants on future forms in keeping with modern circumstances governing the use of passports.
The particulars relating to destination, purpose of journey and approximate date of return of passport applicants are requested for statistical purposes. The information enables the Central Statistics Office to distinguish between passports issued to persons going to employment or permanent residence and passports issued to persons visiting other countries. The data secured are used for the compilation of tables published annually in the statistical abstract showing the numbers of persons to whom new passports were issued to go to employment or permanent residence.
As I stated in reply to a question on the 4th May I am having the present system of applications for passports examined. During this examination consideration will be given as to whether any alterations are necessary in the questions at present put to applicants.
Is it obligatory on them to supply the information if it is to be used for statistical purposes?
At the moment it is.
Is that right?
The question of whether this statistical data can be obtained in a manner other than this is being examined at the moment.