Written Answers Nos. 704-723
704. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a foreign birth registration application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42219/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish Citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.
Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. The service was also impacted by necessary Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021 and the unprecedented demand for passports seen to date in 2022.
My Department is currently putting in place a number of measures that will address the volume of FBR applications currently on hand with a view to significantly reducing the processing time for these citizenship applications by the end of this year.
Supporting documentation for the application to which the Deputy has referred was received on 1 September 2020, and is due to be processed in the near future. A member of the FBR team will be in contact with the applicant in this regard.
706. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will review an urgent passport application for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42244/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra730. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will review an urgent passport application for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42708/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra761. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if an urgent passport application by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43476/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 706, 730 and 761 together.
With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired the Passport Service has reviewed the application and progressed as appropriate.
709. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 925 of 26 July 2022, if he will enquire whether the reason that the application in question was rejected by the United States immigration authorities will be communicated to the applicant. [42259/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs set out in my answer to Parliamentary Question No. 925 of 26 July 2022, the automated US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) system is controlled by the US Department of Homeland Security.
When an ESTA application is denied, I understand that the standard practice is that the reasons for a denial are not communicated to the applicant. You will appreciate that US immigration regulation and operations are a matter solely for the US authorities. Officials from my Department regularly engage with the US Embassy to discuss immigration and visa issues. The US Embassy, understandably, does not share details of individual applications.
I understand that prospective travellers to the US whose ESTA applications have been denied because they accidentally inputted incorrect information may seek redress via the Department of Homeland Security's Travel Redress Inquiry Program website. I am also informed that an ESTA denial does not prevent an individual from applying for a regular visa through the US Embassy. More information on this process can be found on the Embassy's website.
711. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will contact the Russian authorities in relation to Ukrainian human rights activist (details supplied) who has been captured by Russian troops to insist on his rights in accordance with the Geneva Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42277/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the illegal, unprovoked and unjustified further invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces on 24 February, Ireland has stood in unwavering solidarity with the people and government of Ukraine. Ireland and the EU have reiterated our calls on Russia to fully comply with its obligations under international law, and have condemned in the strongest possible terms violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, including the ongoing detention, abduction and kidnapping of Ukrainian journalists, civil society activists, human rights defenders, local officials and other civilians by the Russian Armed Forces and their proxies.
We continue to work at the UN, EU, International Criminal Court, the Council of Europe, and the OSCE not only to bring an end to this war but also to support all measures to ensure accountability for violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Ireland remains at the forefront of efforts to hold Russia accountable for its actions, including by strongly supporting their suspension from the Human Rights Council.
718. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport will be returned to a person (details supplied). [42387/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has returned all documents to the applicant.
720. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a foreign birth registration application for a person (details supplied); if it will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42445/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish Citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.
Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. The service was also impacted by necessary Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021 and the unprecedented demand for passports seen to date in 2022.
My Department is currently putting in place a number of measures that will address the volume of FBR applications currently on hand with a view to significantly reducing the processing time for these citizenship applications by the end of this year.
Supporting documentation for the application to which the Deputy has referred was received on 18 May 2022, and is being stored in a secure environment as it awaits entitlement checking.
723. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if documentation (details supplied) is sufficient in order to fully consider an application for a first Irish passport for a naturalised Irish citizen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42565/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 7(1) of The Passports Act 2008, as amended (the 2008 Act), provides that the Minister shall be satisfied that a person is an Irish citizen and as to their identity before issuing a passport. Section 7(2) of the 2008 Act provides that the Minister may require a passport applicant to provide such information and documents as he considers necessary or expedient to enable him to issue a passport.
The Irish passport was recently ranked 6th in the Henley Global Passport Index as it provides our citizens with visa-free access to 187 countries. This is something we can all be proud of. However, in order to maintain this ranking and to protect the integrity of the Irish passport, the Passport Service must validate the true identity of the applicant and take measures to confirm the applicant’s entitlement to Irish citizenship, as outlined above. Accordingly, a rigorous analysis process is in place for first time applications. While detailed checks are necessary for such applications, once citizenship and identity has been verified and a first passport has been issued, all subsequent passport applications for the applicant are processed as renewal applications.
As outlined on the Passport Service section of my Department's website, the documents listed below are required for a first time passport application for a naturalised Irish citizen currently living in Ireland. The Passport Service may request additional documents at any point in the application process, as provided for under the 2008 Act.
- Identity verification form.
- Original Naturalisation Certificate.
- Full original civil birth certificate (version that includes the name(s) of the parent(s)).
- Original Civil marriage or Civil Partnership certificate (if applying for a passport in your married name).
- Proof of address such as Government correspondence, such as a letter from the Department of Social Protection or the Revenue Commissioners. If you do not have these, original utility bills, or bank statements can be considered.
- Proof of name such as Government correspondence, such as a letter from the Department of Social Protection or the Revenue Commissioners. If you do not have these, original utility bills, or bank statements can be considered.
- You must submit one document as proof of name and one document as proof of address. It cannot be the same document.
- Photographic identification:
- The Public Services Card is the most efficient way for you to verify your identify. This ensures that your application can be processed quickly. We only need a photocopy of your PSC card.
- If you do not have a Public Services Card, you must submit an original government issued photographic identification. This could be an original passport from another country or a certified copy of your driver’s licence (certified by a solicitor or notary public).
