Vol. 540 No. 3
292 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if it is a requirement that applications for the age card must provide evidence of age, by producing a passport; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that that many applicants would not have such a document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20584/01]
The Intoxicating Liquor Act, 1988 (Age Card) Regulations 1999 (SI No. 4 of 1999) provide for a voluntary national age card scheme whereby any person who has attained 18 years of age may apply for an age card at his/her local Garda station in order to confirm that they have attained the legal age for the purchase of intoxicating liquor. The Garda community relations section in Harcourt Square has been given responsibility, under the regulations, for the issuing of the cards.
Subsection 4(3) of the regulations provides that an application to a member of the Garda Síochána for an age card must be accompanied by the applicant's birth certificate, at least one other document which confirms the identity of the applicant, two recent identical passport sized photographs of the head and shoulders of the applicant and the fee prescribed in the second schedule to the regulations. The form of the document confirming identity, which is to accompany the applicant's birth certificate, is not prescribed in the regulations.
Subsection 4(4) of the regulations provides that where the member in charge is satisfied as to the identity of the applicant and that he or she has attained 18 years of age, the member will proceed to authenticate the application.
