Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 December 2011
1 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if and when a passport will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39116/11]
View answerThere is no record on the passport system of an application in the name and date of birth of the person in question, nor is there any record of a previous passport which was issued in this name. If a parent has any reference, such as the number of the application form, this can be given to the Head of the Passport Office in Balbriggan, for further checking. This request should be made to him by email at kevin.walzer@dfa.ie.
In the event that the person has yet to make an application, it should be remembered that the person in question is a minor and the following requirements, which apply to persons born in Ireland before 1 January, 2005, must be met:
1. The child's long form civil Irish birth certificate. This is needed to confirm his identity details for his passport. It will also help to demonstrate his entitlement to Irish citizenship;
2. Parents' full and witnessed consent must be provided in section 7 of the application form. This consent should be supported by the parents' civil marriage certificate;
3. Previous passport, if applicable;
4. Four photographs, two of which must be signed by the Garda witness;
5. Payment of the relevant fee for the selected choice of passport service. Details of the relevant fees are available on the Department's website www.passports.ie
2 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a passport will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39117/11]
View answerIn my reply to the Deputy's question (No. 45) of 29 September, 2011, the full background to this case was provided. It should be recalled that the applicant's mother did not have the required reckonable residence for the purposes of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956 as amended, (the Act) to demonstrate her child's entitlement to Irish citizenship. On this basis, the Department could not issue a passport to her. The applicant's mother was advised of this by the Department in a letter dated 12 September, 2011. This letter also requested evidence of her lawful residence in the State prior to 2009 which might be reckonable for the purposes of the Act or if she had evidence of her own entitlement to Irish citizenship such as a certificate of naturalisation.
As no reply was received from her in this matter, the application in question was cancelled on 24 November. A refund of the paid passport fee was made on 28 November.
While I appreciate that the outcome of this application will be disappointing for the applicant's mother, I can assure the Deputy that if, as previously advised, she is able to provide the additional evidence that would demonstrate her daughter's entitlement to Irish citizenship the Passport Service will issue a passport to her on receipt of a new application.
