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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 6 Jun 1985

Vol. 359 No. 4

Written Answers. - Passport Regulations.

97.

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether he is satisfied that the new passport regulations can deal adequately with the problem of forgery; and whether he has considered a Passport Act such as Australia has which would make successful prosecution more likely.

Since taking office I have examined the question of whether a Passport Act might be advantageous in certain areas including the question of prosecutions. I am satisfied that a specific Passport Act would not be required to provide a satisfactory statutory basis for prosecutions for forgery, or in cases where passport are obtained by false or misleading application.

Many statutory provisions already exist in this area. My Department have identified these as fully as possible, in consultation with the Garda authorities. I am advised that existing provisions cover inter alia the offence of possession without lawful authority or excuse. The Garda authorities have not indicated to me that they find the existing provisions unsatisfactory. For my part I will remain ready to review the situation if experience shows that there are defects or inadequacies in the law. The burden of proof would of course remain, irrespective of the format of the law.

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