Written Answers Nos. 700-719
700. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will review a passport application by a person (details supplied); if he will rectify the technical issue ongoing with this over the past few weeks; and the status of same. [19203/22]
View answer735. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a person (details supplied) will receive their passport in time to travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19970/22]
View answer776. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will ensure that a passport application by a person (details supplied) will be processed urgently by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20751/22]
View answer784. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare given that this person applied online on 27 January 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20961/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 700, 735, 776 and 784 together.
With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has contacted the applicants to provide an update as to the steps they must take to progress their passport applications.
701. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the passport application of a person (details supplied) will be processed urgently by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19204/22]
View answer704. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on a passport application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19246/22]
View answer709. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will examine and expedite a passport application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19336/22]
View answer714. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding a passport application for a minor (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19469/22]
View answer724. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport will be processed on time for a child (details supplied) in County Mayo in order for them to travel with their family. [19688/22]
View answer730. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed and expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19817/22]
View answer732. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will review a passport application by a person (details supplied); the status of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19888/22]
View answer737. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application will be expedited for a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19977/22]
View answer738. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on a passport application by a person (details supplied) [19980/22]
View answer742. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if two passport applications can be processed for two siblings (details supplied) in order that they can attend a family event. [19995/22]
View answer745. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will examine and expedite a passport application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20030/22]
View answer749. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport in respect of a minor will be dispatched in time for the travel plans of a family (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20098/22]
View answer750. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed and expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20120/22]
View answer785. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20962/22]
View answer786. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20963/22]
View answer787. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application will be expedited for a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21080/22]
View answer791. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application by a person (details supplied) will be expedited. [21151/22]
View answer794. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will be processed for a child (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that this passport application was received in the Passport Office on 9 November 2021. [21198/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 701, 704, 709, 714, 724, 730, 732, 737, 738, 742, 745, 749, 750, 785, 786, 787, 791 and 794 together.
With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update on the status of the passport applications to the applicants.
702. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport will issue in time for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal for their intended travel date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19208/22]
View answer703. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport for a minor (details supplied) will be ready in time for the travel plans of their family considering that the application was received on 3 January 2022 and the estimated issue date has passed; if the passport can be immediately returned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19238/22]
View answer706. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will arrange for the expeditious processing of a renewal passport application for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19274/22]
View answer708. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport for a minor (details supplied) will be ready in time for the family’s travel plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19335/22]
View answer710. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if passports for siblings (details supplied) will be dispatched in time to travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19343/22]
View answer712. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport will issue in time for travel for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19352/22]
View answer713. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19408/22]
View answer715. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport will issue in time for travel for a child (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19490/22]
View answer716. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport will issue in time for travel for a child (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19491/22]
View answer718. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application will be processed on time for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo to travel in view of the fact that this application was received in to the Passport Office on 26 January 2022.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19560/22]
View answer722. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport application will be completed for a child (details supplied) in view of the fact that this application was received by the Passport Office on 9 November 2021. [19681/22]
View answer728. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will be issued to a person (details supplied);; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19771/22]
View answer729. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will examine and expedite a passport application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19805/22]
View answer734. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport will issue on time for travel for a child (details supplied); if the documents received are correct; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19929/22]
View answer736. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will review a passport application by a person (details supplied). [19974/22]
View answer739. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue for a baby (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19988/22]
View answer744. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20028/22]
View answer746. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20051/22]
View answer754. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of an urgent passport application by a student (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20179/22]
View answer760. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will examine and expedite a passport application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20406/22]
View answer761. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will ensure that the passport application by a person (details supplied) will be processed urgently by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20411/22]
View answer768. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a person (details supplied) will receive their passport in time to travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20534/22]
View answer772. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding a passport for a person (details supplied); if it will be dispatched in time for travel on 28 April 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20688/22]
View answer780. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20871/22]
View answer782. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20923/22]
View answer783. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20924/22]
View answer788. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application by a person (details supplied). [21137/22]
View answer792. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 401 of 1 March 2022, the status of a passport application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21188/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 702, 703, 706, 708, 710, 712, 713, 715, 716, 718, 722, 728, 729, 734, 736, 739, 744, 746, 754, 760, 761, 768, 772, 780, 782, 783, 788 and 792 together.
With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants.
705. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a person (details supplied) will receive a decision on their Irish citizenship application which was submitted in April 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19256/22]
View answerMy Department is responsible for citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.
The processing of Foreign Birth Registration has resumed and will be gradually scaling up in line with the recruitment of additional resources. Due to the complex nature of the Foreign Birth Registration process, the large increase in applications received following the Brexit vote in the UK, and the pause in the Service due to necessary Covid-19 restrictions, applicants should allow approximately 2 years from the receipt of supporting documentation for processing of Foreign Birth Registration applications at this time. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, and the subsequent reassignment of Foreign Birth Registration staff to assist in the provision of essential passport services, the Foreign Birth Registration Service was paused for nearly 15 months across the 2020-2021 period.
The application of the father in this case was registered on 8 April 2020. Processing of this application has commenced. The applications of the children were received on 29 September 2020, and are being stored in a secure environment.
The FBR service operates a transparent general policy of processing applications in order of receipt. FBR staff continue to provide an emergency service for Foreign Birth Registration in cases of exceptional urgency, such as expectant parents, or stateless persons. Such applicants may continue to contact the Passport Service directly.
My Department is fully committed to the continued allocation of additional resources over the coming period to assist with the processing of the Foreign Birth Registration applications currently on hand and the high volume of new applications anticipated this year.
707. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a person’s (details supplied) original passport will be returned to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19277/22]
View answerWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has returned the requested document to the applicant.
711. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will liaise with the Minister for Social Protection with regard to putting legislative provisions in place specifically to grant authority to Passport Office office staff involved in the processing of passport applications, access to the General Registration Office data on births, deaths and marriages to verify information on applications and eliminate the need for applicants to send in original copies of various certificates and thus improve turnaround times in application processing and eliminate the need for certificates to be posted back to applicants (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19348/22]
View answerMy Department’s ongoing Passport Reform Programme is continually working to deliver a fully integrated service, which is more efficient, predictable and citizen-focused, while also maintaining the integrity of the Irish passport through enhanced fraud measures.
As part of the Passport Reform Programme, staff from my Department are in early discussions with counterparts in the Department of Social Protection and the General Register Office (GRO). These discussions are focused on areas of cooperation that could increase the efficiency of the passport application process through a potential reduction of paper processing. These initial discussions are focussing on the feasibility of electronic access to GRO records for the purposes of passport processing.
The exact technical arrangements and timelines for this level of integration are still under consideration. My Department will continue to increase internal efficiencies and improve the customer experience over the coming years under the Passport Reform Programme.
With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued a passport to the applicant.
717. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide the details of the name, salary, position and roles of persons who are being paid for by his Department for secondment to another public, private or semi private entity in tabular form following the announcement that the salary of a person (details supplied) being seconded to Trinity College, Dublin will be paid by the Department of Health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19549/22]
View answer731. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline all of the secondment arrangements within his Department; the conditions related to such secondments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19869/22]
View answer747. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of persons currently employed in his Department who have been seconded in from the public sector; the number of Departmental officials seconded where the monies are recouped from the body the person is seconded to or where the Department pays for the person with no recoupment from the other organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20062/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 717, 731 and 747 together.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has a number of secondment agreements in place with other public sector organisations, European institutions, international organisations, and private sector organisations.
Outward secondments assist in building the Department’s strategic relationships with number of key organisations with a prominent role in defining policy approaches on issues of importance to Ireland. This includes EU institutions and other multilateral organisations. In addition, secondments provide officers with significant opportunities to broaden their skills and experience.
The Department of Foreign Affairs occasionally uses secondments to fill key specialised roles associated with time-bound projects and to facilitate temporary staff exchanges with strategic partners across the public and private sectors.
My Department also facilitates the regular inward secondment of officers from across Government Departments for posting to our network of overseas missions in order to ensure that appropriate resources are in place to promote, protect and advance Ireland’s key interests and values. At present, there are 127 such posts across our mission network, all of which are regularly advertised within the respective parent Departments. Costs are recouped from the relevant parent Department for 86 of these posts. Details of posts where full or partial costs are paid from my Department’s budget are set out in tabular form below.
Civil Servants seconded to my Department remain within Civil Service grade structures for pay purposes.
719. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit run apprenticeship programmes or are directly engaged in the training of apprentices; if so, the number of apprentices involved; the specialities in which they are being trained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19585/22]
View answerMy Department does not run any apprenticeship programmes, nor is it directly engaged in the training of apprentices. There are no agencies under the aegis of my Department.
From 2019-2021, the Department of Foreign Affairs participated in a Department of Public Expenditure & Reform led ICT apprenticeship programme. One officer was trained in my Department under that programme and upon successful completion of the apprenticeship joined the Department as an Executive Officer ICT Specialist.
