Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 June 2022
121. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans, if any, that are in place to improve and speed up the passport verification and consent process to verify the witness signature; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31234/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra128. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will prioritise current passport applicants who are currently in the system due to the inability of a Passport Office official to make contact with a member of An Garda Síochána notwithstanding the new measures which were put in place recently to deal with more effective means of communication between the two said State bodies given the stress that this delay is putting parents and guardians under as they try to navigate their way through preparations for travel for their families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31344/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 128 together.
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)
Child renewal applications can be witnessed by members of a wide range of professions including school teachers and secretaries, doctors and elected representatives. It is important that these witnesses are available to confirm their witnessing of consent forms when called by the Passport Service.
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.
It is the experience of the Passport Service that the current process of witness verification is generally an efficient and effective one.
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 Garda signature cannot be verified after three attempts.
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 and revert to the Passport Service within 24 hours.
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.
In addition, the Passport Service has released a helpful video guide to correctly completing the witnessed identity and consent form for children. This is available on my Department's website at www.dfa.ie/passports/consent-for-children/
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.
The Passport Service continues to consider ways in which to enhance customer experience for citizens.
