Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 February 2014
45. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the checks made to ensure the security and integrity of Irish passports; if he will outline the staff selection process carried out before hiring staff to the Passport Office; if he is concerned at recent investigations into the Passport Office by An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7130/14]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade takes the issue of passport fraud very seriously. The Passport Service continues to balance measures to protect against identity theft on the one hand with maintaining our customer focus. The application and checking processes have therefore been designed to protect our customers. I can confirm that new measures were put in place in the last year to improve our processes. These include changes to staffing structures, enhanced links with other Government Departments and overseas agencies.
Permanent staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, including those assigned to the Passport Service, are hired through the Public Appointments Service. The Passport Service hires additional temporary staff for the peak production period each year with the assistance of the Public Appointments Service and the Department of Social Protection. All staff are security cleared prior to taking up duty
With regard to the recent investigation, while I am unable to provide specific details of an ongoing criminal investigation, I can say that the Department became concerned in Autumn 2013 when internal checks revealed irregularities in respect of passport applications and immediately launched a joint investigation with An Garda Síochána. To be clear, the irregularities were identified by the Passport Service which invited the Gardaí to assist in and take forward the investigation. Furthermore, I can say that this issue relates to a small number of Fraudulently Obtained Genuine Irish passports (FOGs).
