Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
16. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a Member of Parliament for Westminster can witness an Irish passport application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37388/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra17. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to outline the Passport Office process for confirming identification with a witness; if he will provide clarity on (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37389/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra18. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if consideration has been given to allowing elected public representatives, (details supplied) namely local councillors, in their capacity as witnesses to Irish passport applications to include their official council provided mobile number as a point of contact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37390/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 17 and 18 together.
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 3rd in the Henley Global Passport Index as it provides our citizens with visa-free access to 189 countries.
An element of this process is to require all first time and minor applicants to have their identity and, in the case of minors, the consent of the guardians to the issuance of a passport, witnessed. The witnessing process forms a vital element of the identity and consent verification process for the Passport Service. It provides initial assurance that the person in the photograph is the same person submitting the passport application form and that the consent of guardians to a minor's application has been given.
First time adult applicants resident in Ireland must have their identity verification form signed by a member of An Garda Síochána. First time adult applicants living outside the State may choose from a broad range of suitable witnesses to verify their identity. A full list of acceptable witnesses can be found on my Department’s website: How to get your passport application witnessed - Department of Foreign Affairs (dfa.ie). This list names ‘elected public representatives’, which includes local councillors and those elected to the parliament of the United Kingdom.
The witness is required to provide a landline phone number. When processing the application, a Passport Service officer will place a call to the witness to verify the identity of the applicant. Mobile phone numbers are not accepted to ensure that the verification process remains robust and secure. If a Passport Service officer telephones a landline to verify the identity of an applicant and is unable to reach the witness at that time and during the call is offered a mobile number to reach the witness, discretion may be used on whether to contact the witness via the mobile telephone.
Full details on the witnessing process may be found on www.dfa.ie/passports/how-to-get-your-application-witnessed/.
