Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 13 Mar 1991

Vol. 406 No. 4

Written Answers. - Passport Applications.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

92 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a number of cases of people who have received Irish citizenship and in applying for an Irish passport are unable to supply the Passport Office with a copy of their birth certificate from their country of birth; and if he will outline the steps which can be taken to permit an Irish passport to be issued to persons in such circumstances.

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Collins)

An Irish passport is a valuable document relating to the holder's Irish citizenship and identity. To preserve its integrity and international acceptability it is important to ensure that Irish passports are granted only to those properly entitled to hold them.

To ensure that applications are entertained only from those who are eligible for a passport, each adult applicant is required to produce to the Passport Office a completed application form and two photographs which have been certified by a garda, together with a birth certificate and any other proof of identity or citizenship as may be required.

I am aware that the requirement for a birth certificate has in the past caused problems for applicants who have acquired Irish citizenship other than by birth in this country. The Passport Office are prepared to examine all such applications sympathetically and accept substitute documentation in cases where it is established that birth certificates are not available from the country of birth of the applicant.