Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In late June I became aware of an allegation that one of a group of persons arrested for allegedly carrying out long-term, "deep cover" assignments in the United States on behalf of the Russian Federation had travelled to Moscow using a false Irish passport. I immediately asked the Passport Service and An Garda Síochána to undertake an investigation into this allegation and this investigation is underway. I understand that the Gardaí have now received information alleging that as many as six Irish forged passports using material cloned from the valid passports of Irish citizens may have been involved in the case in question. I can confirm that a small number of citizens have been interviewed by the Gardaí and the Passport Service. While there is no evidence that those whose passport details have allegedly been used are under any threat or have been inconvenienced while travelling, they are, as a precautionary measure, being issued with replacement passports.

The Government regards the fraudulent use of Irish passports as a most serious matter and we are constantly seeking to improve the security of passports. I understand that the passport books allegedly used were of a type produced by the Passport Service prior to 2005. There have since been major enhancements to the security features of the current passport book and the Government is satisfied that this now makes the production of a counterfeit Irish passport much more difficult, although clearly not impossible for agencies with substantial resources. In addition, procedures for confirming the identity of first time passport applicants have been tightened with a view to preventing fraud during the application process.

Once I have received the reports of An Garda Síochána and the Passport Service into these most recent allegations, I will consider the evidence presented to me before reporting to the Government and recommending whatever course of action I believe appropriate. I will then inform the House on the findings of the investigation and any action the Government should decide to take. In the interim it would be inappropriate for me, at this stage, to speculate on its conclusions.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 369: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reasons for denying a passport to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37711/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Passports Act, 2008 requires that before issuing a passport to a person, the Minister for Foreign Affairs shall be satisfied that that person is an Irish citizen. Proofs of identity and entitlement to citizenship are required in respect of all passport applications. These requirements are outlined in the passport application form notes that accompany each application form. Details are also available on the Department's website. This person applied for a passport in July 2007. Her application could not be finalised by the Passport Service on the grounds that her entitlement to Irish citizenship, which was based on her Irish-born grandfather, had not been demonstrated. At that time, she was advised by the Passport Service that she had to first apply for Foreign Birth Registration through the Consular Section in my Department before a passport could be issued to her.

Foreign Births Registration is the legal process by which persons, who have direct family links to Irish-born grandparents and in some cases to Irish-born great grandparents, may apply for Irish citizenship. Those persons, who are registered, are issued with certificates. These certificates are accepted by the Passport Service as verifiable evidence of citizenship. As no certificate for Foreign Births Registration was submitted to the Passport Service by this person, her passport application was cancelled in October, 2009 and a refund of the paid passport fee was made to her.

Insofar as the Foreign Births Registration process is concerned, I can confirm that an application was received in my Department from this person on 6 October 2010. The application was not complete and the applicant was contacted by telephone on the afternoon of 6 October 2010 and advised accordingly. An e-mail was sent to the applicant later that day advising her of the extra documentation that was required in order to process the application, the statutory fee and the requirements in relation to the witnessing of the application form. Our Consulate General in New York was also contacted on the same day and they confirmed that they would assist the applicant in applying for the extra documents of U.S. origin. When the applicant returns a fully completed application form together with the statutory fee and the extra documentation my Department will expedite her application for Irish citizenship through Foreign Births Registration. Once a certificate of Foreign Births Registration is issued to her, my Department will be in a position to issue an Irish passport to her on receipt of a fully completed application form.

The situation for her children is different. While both were born in America, their father was born in Ireland and as such the children are automatically Irish citizens. They were issued passports on foot of their applications in 2007.