Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 21 Nov 1995

Vol. 458 No. 5

Written Answers. - Holding of Irish Passport.

Declan Bree

Question:

66 Mr. Bree asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has satisfied himself that a person (details supplied) holding an Irish passport is an Irish citizen and entitled to hold an Irish passport; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this person holds a United Kingdom passport using a different name; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that this person has been convicted of crimes in the United Kingdom under different names; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17211/95]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

As doubts have been raised about this person's real identity and his entitlement to an Irish citizenship, the Passport Office is reviewing the question of his entitlement to carry an Irish passport. I am aware that this man is suspected of having been involved in criminal activity in the UK and elsewhere. However, suspicion of involvement in or convictions of crimes is not normally sufficient reason in itself for Irish passport facilities to be denied to Irish citizens.