asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if it is the practice of his Department to refuse to issue passports to children who have been adopted abroad by Irish parents, who have been living here for many years and are recognised as children of those parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Irish Passport Facilities.
21.
Under Article 11(1) of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, children adopted under the laws of this State are recognised as Irish citizens. Children adopted under the laws of another State, even if both their parents are Irish citizens, are not so recognised and therefore are not entitled either to be granted Irish passport facilities in their own right or be endorsed on the Irish passport of one or other parents.
Irish citizens who have adopted children abroad may, of course, apply for citizenship via naturalisation with the Department of Justice who, I understand, takes a sympathetic approach to all such applications. Once this is granted the children are eligible to be granted Irish passport facilities.