Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
975. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will introduce a direct line for gardaí to contact the Passport Office to verify passport information in cases where calls are missed. [40842/22]
View answerThere are certain passport applications for applicants resident in Ireland that require forms to be witnessed by a member of An Garda Síochána. The witnessing of these forms is a vital element of the identity verification process for the Passport Service, as it provides initial assurance that the person in the photograph is the same person presenting to submit the passport application form. In the case of children's applications, it ensures that the consent of guardians is verified.
Garda stations maintain logs of these witnessed forms for verification purposes. For each application involving a Garda witness, the Passport Service calls the relevant Garda station to confirm that the Garda witness recorded the witnessed form in the station logbook. Passport Service staff will call the relevant Garda station up to three times to verify the Garda's signature.
In cases where the Garda signature cannot be verified by calling the Garda station, a new system has been established between the Passport Service and An Garda Síochána to verify these applications. A daily list of an average of 15 applications is sent from the Passport Service to An Garda Síochána, who undertake to verify the witnessed forms. This new system assists in reducing the number of applications that are delayed due to a failure to verify witness details. The Passport Service and An Garda Síochána are keeping the system under review to ensure that it continues to operate effectively.
