Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2022
387. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of cases in which a parental consent form could not be verified by the Passport Office in each of the years between 2017 and 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24713/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe witnessing of identity and consent forms for children is a vital element of the verification process for the Passport Service, as it provides initial assurance that the child in the photograph is the same child submitted on the passport application form and that the child's guardians have consented to the issuance of the passport.
In order to protect the integrity of the Irish passport and also the rights of parents or guardians and children, it is important that forms are correctly completed and that the witness' signature is verified by the Passport Service.
The Passport Service does not maintain records of how many applications are rejected because the witness to a child's identity and consent form could not be contacted. The Passport Service will only request a new identity and consent form after multiple attempts have been made to contact the witness.
