Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Nov 1998

Vol. 495 No. 7

Written Answers. - Passport Withdrawals.

Tom Enright

Ceist:

181 Mr. Enright asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of Irish passports withdrawn by his Department during the period 1965 to 1970 from Irish citizens who held Irish passports and who were resident in Southern Rhodesia during this period; the categories of people from whom Irish passports and Irish citizenship were withdrawn at that time; and the plans, or proposals, if any, he has to restore Irish passports to former Irish citizens who had their passports withdrawn and now find that, even though they had held Irish citizenship, this has been withdrawn. [21566/98]

Tom Enright

Ceist:

182 Mr. Enright asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of Irish passports withdrawn by his Department during the period 1970 to 1975 from Irish citizens who held Irish passports and who were resident in Southern Rhodesia during this period; the categories of people from whom Irish passports and Irish citizenship were withdrawn at that time; and the plans or proposals, if any, he has to restore Irish passports to former Irish citizens who had their passports withdrawn and now find that, even though they had held Irish citizenship, this has been withdrawn. [21567/98]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 182 together.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs may refuse to grant passport facilities in certain circumstances but the Minister does not normally withdraw Irish passports once they have been validly issued.

In accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 253 of 1968, which imposed mandatory sanctions on the illegal regime in what was then Southern Rhodesia, in the period 29 May 1968 to 21 December 1979 new passports were not issued to Irish citizens for emigration to Southern Rhodesia nor to those of our citizens residing in Southern Rhodesia whose activities furthered or encouraged the unlawful actions of the regime. Since those restrictions were lifted, people who were affected have been able to avail of Irish passport facilities in the same way as Irish citizens generally.

In the time available it has not been possible to ascertain whether there are records of the number of Irish citizens who were denied Irish passports in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution. A search is under way and I will inform the Deputy of the outcome when it is completed.

I am not aware that Irish citizenship was withdrawn from anybody in Southern Rhodesia. For information in that connection I suggest that the Deputy contact the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform who has responsibility for citizenship matters.