The number of passports reported as lost to the Passport Office showed a reduction in the first five months of this year compared to recent years. So far this year only 3.9% of passport applicants reported their previous passport as lost. This compares with a figure of 4.66% last year and 4.21% in 2002.
In 2003 as many as 3,861 passports were returned to the Passport Office and 1,592 have been returned so far this year. These have come from a variety of sources including the Garda Síochána, bars, clubs, shops, banks and members of the public. On average around one in six passports that are reported lost are returned to the Passport Office. Anecdotally the office believes, and this is supported by Garda advice, that the vast majority of the remainder are lost or mislaid in people's homes rather than stolen or misappropriated for fraudulent use.
The office decided with effect from 1 March, based upon Garda security advice, to cease the practice of returning lost passports that were recovered to the holder. As it is impossible to determine what use, if any, was made of a passport while it was out of the possession of the holder the Garda advise that it is preferable not to return a lost passport. Instead they recommend cancelling it and the holder must obtain a new passport. Where a person seeks a new passport to replace a lost one the Passport Office will issue him or her with a replacement passport.
I am aware that many bars and clubs require young people to produce evidence of age and identity as a condition of entry. There is no requirement to use a passport for this purpose. The Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 specifies a number of documents that may be used to satisfy a licensee that a person is over 18 years, including a Garda age card, a passport, an identity card of a member state of the European Communities, a driver's licence or other documents as may be specified by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
In reply to a question tabled by DeputyRichard Bruton on 17 February, my colleague the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform encouraged licensees to accept the Garda age card as an age and identity document. I encourage young persons to obtain the card for this purpose through their local Garda station.
