Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Jun 1996

Vol. 466 No. 6

Written Answers. - Irish Citizenship.

Declan Bree

Question:

29 Mr. Bree asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has satisfied himself that the person holding an Irish passport (details supplied) 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 (details supplied) using a different name; if he has had the matter investigated since the parliamentary question raised by Deputy Bree on this subject on 21 November 1995; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12141/96]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

To verify this person's Irish citizenship and his entitlement to an Irish passport it is necessary to re-examine documentary evidence such as birth and marriage certificates. We are unable to do this until either he contacts us or we get information on his whereabouts which are unknown to us. The validity of his current Irish passport is due to expire in December 1996 and no further passport facilities will be granted to him unless we are satisfied as to his Irish citizenship.

I understand that the British passport, details of which were given by the Deputy, was in this person's possession when he was arrested in Spain ten years ago and that he is therefore unlikely still to have it.