Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Mar 1996

Vol. 462 No. 8

Written Answers. - Irish Passports.

John O'Donoghue

Ceist:

61 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of passports that were issued to Bulgarian nationals since 1 January 1994; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5675/96]

John O'Donoghue

Ceist:

63 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of passports that were issued to non-nationals since 1 January 1994; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5677/96]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 63 together.

Irish passports are issued only to Irish citizens. Non-nationals may hold Irish passports if they are also or become Irish citizens.

Some Irish citizens, for example those born abroad, are also citizens of other countries. Non-nationals can acquire Irish citizenship in different ways, for example by naturalisation or by making a declaration accepting Irish citizenship as their post-nuptial citizenship. In the period 1 January 1994, to 31 December 1995, six passports were issued to Irish citizens whose place of birth was Bulgaria. Information on the number of passports issued to Irish citizens who were born in other foreign countries is not readily available.

John O'Donoghue

Ceist:

62 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of new passports that were issued to Irish citizens since 1 January 1994; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5676/96]

To hold an Irish passport a person must be an Irish citizen. Irish passports are issued by the Passport Offices in Cork and Dublin and by the Embassies abroad. Approximately 540,000 Irish passports were issued in the period 1 January 1994 to 31 December 1995.

Barr
Roinn