Passport Applications

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 April 2015

Wednesday, 22 April 2015

Ceisteanna (124)

Paul Murphy

Ceist:

124. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 651 of 15 April 2015 and 742 of 24 March 2015, the procedures around determining if someone applying for a passport has reduced capacity; if the view of a medical professional is required in making this determination; if it is on the basis of other information, or on the opinion of a Garda or other official; if the determination that the applicant is of reduced capacity is contested by the person, if there are any mechanisms in place to appeal this, or to have the opinion of a third party, with appropriate medical expertise, to determine the matter; if there are no procedures in place, his views that such procedures are necessary. [15953/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Passport Service operates on the presumption that an adult making an application to the Passport Office has the capacity to do so. In the rare occurrence that the Passport Service is informed to the contrary, the application is reviewed in accordance with the provisions of S6 (4) of the Passports Act 2008. Section 6 (4) states, “An application for the issue of a passport to a person who is suffering from a physical or mental incapacity may be made on his or her behalf by a person duly authorised to act on his or her behalf.” Evidence supporting the claim of reduced capacity is required from a medical professional, HSE appointed social worker or court appointed legal guardian. In the situation where the passport applicant wishes to challenge the information received concerning his/her incapacity, this appeal can be made to the Director of Passport Services and all appropriate evidence will be examined. A circumstance has not yet arisen where the application of S6 (4) of the Passports Act 2008 has been contested by an applicant.