Registration of Births

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 April 2018

Tuesday, 17 April 2018

Ceisteanna (163)

Peter Burke

Ceist:

163. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the statutory footing which compels those seeking a foreign birth registration certificate to provide State identification in order for their application to be processed; if his Department has examined the possibility that most minors under 16 years of age do not have State identification, which is normally a driver licence or a passport; his plans to amend this rule due to the number of cases on hold at present in the foreign births unit (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15004/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

My Department takes very seriously its responsibilities in relation to determining entitlement to Irish citizenship. State-issued photographic identification forms an essential part of the documentary requirements for all applications for Foreign Birth Registration, and this is clearly stated on my Department’s website and on the application form for citizenship through Foreign Birth Registration.

The statutory basis for the documentary requirements is set out in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts and in the Foreign Birth Regulations 2013 (S.I. No 47 of 2013).

When the application for citizenship is being made on behalf of a minor, the requirement for photographic identification is not only important in relation to our objectives of protecting the integrity of the citizenship process and minimising the risk of fraud, but also in safeguarding against child abduction or trafficking.

With regard to the particular individual case which the Deputy references, and on which he has been in correspondence with my Department, I am pleased to confirm that the additional document requested was provided and the applicant was entered onto the Foreign Births Register on April 10th.