Paul Murphy
Question:143. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of passports that have been issued to children that fall under the parameters of a judgement (details supplied). [26812/23]
View answerThursday, 1 June 2023
Questions (143)
Written answers
All passport applications are subject to the Passports Act 2008, as amended (“the 2008 Act”). The 2008 Act requires that a person must be an Irish citizen in order for the Minister to issue a passport to that person. Accordingly, every applicant for a passport must submit a complete application form with supporting documents positively confirming to the satisfaction of the Minister, amongst other things, that the person is an Irish citizen and as such is entitled to a passport.
Prior to the Supreme Court decision in U.M. (a minor) v Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Ors (U.M.), certain applications for passports may have been refused or cancelled on the grounds that the children involved were not Irish citizens under section 6A(1) of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. Passport policy has been revised following the decision in U.M. and passports have issued accordingly in compliance with the provisions of the 2008 Act.
It is not possible to provide the information the Deputy has requested, as the Passport Service does not separately track passport applications that fall under the parameters of the judgment to which the Deputy refers.