There are certain passport applications for applicants resident in Ireland that require forms to be witnessed by a member of An Garda Síochána. These applications include:
- All Passport Express applications - Section 9 Certificate of Identity
- First time adult online applications - Identity Verification Form
- First time child online applications - Child Passport Identity and Consent Form (Guardian A)
The witnessing of these forms is a vital element of the identity verification process for the Passport Service, as it provides initial assurance that the person in the photograph is the same person presenting to submit the passport application form.
In the case of an application for a minor the witnessing of this form provides evidence that guardians give consent for a passport to be issued to the child. 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 verified by the Passport Service by calling the Garda station to confirm the Garda's signature.
It is stated in a note to the witness on the identity and consent forms that they may be contacted to confirm the validity of their signature. It is the responsibility of the witnessing Garda to ensure that the signature is correctly recorded in the logbook, so that when the Passport Service calls at a later date the signature can be verified.
In a small number of cases, the Passport Service contacts the Garda station and is informed that the witness was not recorded in the logbook. Prior to last week, this resulted in the Passport Service requesting a new witnessed consent or identity form from the applicant.
Over the past number of weeks the Passport Service has worked with senior management at An Garda Síochána (AGS) to develop a system for verifying Garda witnesses on passport applications in cases where the relevant Garda station cannot be contacted after three attempts, or where the Passport Service is informed that the witnessing was not recorded in the logbook.
Details on these applications are now forwarded by the Passport Service to Garda HQ on a daily basis. The Garda Liaison Officer will then undertake to verify the details.
This new system, which commenced last week, will assist in reducing the number of passport applications that are delayed due to a failure to make contact with AGS to verify witness details.
The Passport Service maintains a close working relationship with An Garda Síochána and regularly offers training and guidance to Gardaí on the correct completion of the required identity and consent forms.
The Passport Service has published a full-page informational advertisement in the June edition of An Garda Síochána’s magazine, the Garda Review, to assist Gardaí with the process of witnessing passport identity and consent forms. This advertisement includes the information that the details must be recorded in the Garda log book and that the Passport Service will ring the Garda station to verify all first time passport applicants’ consent and identity form details.
The Passport Service takes its responsibility to protect the integrity of the Irish passport very seriously. The Irish passport has a strong international reputation due to the strength of the security features within the passport book and the robust processes involved in its issuance. The Irish passport was recently ranked 5th in the Henley Global Passport Index as it provides our citizens with visa-free access to 187 countries.
With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy enquired, the Passport Service made contact with the relevant Garda station and was informed that the witness details were not recorded in the log book. The Passport Service followed standard procedure at that time and requested new consent forms for each applicant from the applicants' parent.
