Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 March 2010
312 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has approved of the use of Irish passports or travel documentation by persons who are not Irish citizens at the request of other governments or their security, defence or intelligence agencies in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10376/10]
Amharc ar fhreagra313 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has received any requests from another government or its intelligence agencies with regard to the use of Irish passports or travel documentation by persons who are not Irish citizens in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10378/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 312 and 313 together.
I can categorically state that I have not, at any time, authorised the use of Irish passports by persons who are not Irish citizens. I have also never received any request from another Government or any foreign intelligence agency seeking the use of Irish passports by non-nationals.
The 2008 Passports Act provides strict guidelines on the proper procedures to be followed with regards to the issuing of Irish passport and Section 12 of that Act stipulates very clearly that only Irish citizens can be issued with Irish passports. My Department and I take our obligations under the Passports Act very seriously and I would not allow a passport to be issued unless it was in full accordance with the terms of this legislation.
I would like to reassure the Deputy that safeguarding the integrity of the Irish passport is of paramount importance both to my Department and to me. We in Ireland are rightly proud of the esteem in which the Irish passport is held across the world and I would never condone any action whatsoever that would undermine its credibility.
