Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 October 2018
101. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of holders of Irish passports residing overseas that are under 18 years of age and citizens by descent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42834/18]
View answer103. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of passport holders residing overseas that are over 18 years of age and could vote; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42836/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 103 together.
Table 1 indicates the number of passports issued annually, from 2014 to present, to citizens under 18 who were resident overseas at the time of application. The number of these applicants whose entitlement to Irish citizenship was derived by descent is also indicated.
Entitlement to Irish citizenship is governed by Irish law and in particular the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applicants must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship in their passport application.
With reference to citizenship by descent, an individual born abroad is automatically an Irish citizen if one of their parents was an Irish citizen born in Ireland. An individual can also claim citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who was not born in Ireland but was an Irish citizen at the time of the individual's birth.
Table 1:
|
Year |
Passports issued |
Citizenship by descent |
|
2014 |
20,401 |
15,569 |
|
2015 |
21,501 |
16,293 |
|
2016 |
24,793 |
18,770 |
|
2017 |
27,944 |
21,502 |
|
2018* |
21,989 |
16,401 |
Table 2 outlines the number of passports issued annually, from 2008 to present, to citizens over 18 who were resident overseas at the time of application.
|
Year |
Passports issued |
|
2008 |
67,650 |
|
2009 |
66,645 |
|
2010 |
64,260 |
|
2011 |
60,902 |
|
2012 |
65,637 |
|
2013 |
62,476 |
|
2014 |
65,141 |
|
2015 |
71,251 |
|
2016 |
92,019 |
|
2017 |
110,024 |
|
2018* |
90,531 |
*Jan 1 to Sep 30 2018
An Irish passport issued to an individual over the age of 18 has a maximum validity of 10 years. An Irish passport issued to an individual under the age of 18 has a maximum validity of 5 years.
The eligibility of citizens to vote is a matter for the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.
