Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 January 2014
46. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if and when a passport will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2165/14]
View answerAll passport applications are subject to the provision of the Passports Act, 2008 (the Act). The issue of a passport is, therefore, the culmination of an important and legally-binding process. The checks and balances within the passport process embrace the standard principles that are provided for in the Act and help to ensure that the identity of the applicant is known and that the person in question is an Irish citizen. This serves to maintain the worldwide good reputation and integrity of the Irish passport, which, in turn, ensures the safe travel and wellbeing of Irish citizens, as they travel abroad. Moreover, it helps to combat passport and identity fraud.
The person concerned was born in Dublin on 21 February 2013. His application for an Irish passport would, therefore, be made under the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 2004 (the Act). The Act provides that persons born in the State on or after 1 January 2005, where neither parent is an Irish or British citizen or otherwise entitled to reside in the State or Northern Ireland without restriction, may claim citizenship by birth in the State (and thereby establish eligibility for a passport) only where a parent has been lawfully resident in the State for three of the four years preceding their birth.
The Department assesses such passport applications in line with guidelines provided by the Department of Justice and Equality, which is the Department responsible for immigration and citizenship.
The Passport Service received an application from the person in question on 26 March, 2013. In order to make a decision on the application, the Passport Service has had ongoing correspondence with the Department of Justice and Equality on the matter of lawful residence in the State. The Passport Service is now in a position to issue a passport in this case. The passport will issue on Thursday 16/01/2014.
