Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

It is disturbing that the State, via the Department of Foreign Affairs, has facilitated a change of identity for a well-known drug trafficker. Who was involved in the cover-up in this case and how was it allowed to happen? I seek full and detailed particulars from the Passport Office and the Minister for Foreign Affairs as to the circumstances surrounding this issue.

I am reluctant to name persons outside the House but will do so in this case. Mr. Kieran Boylan has a string of convictions for drug trafficking and drug possession. Nevertheless, an international haulage licence was issued to him last September. Moreover, a passport has been issued to him in Irish by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Under the relevant legislation, there is a facility for the issuing of a passport in a name that is in a language other than the language in which it appears on the applicant's birth certificate. To my mind, however, the usage of Irish in this case has only one purpose - to avoid detection. After all, this is a wanted man, sought by Dutch police among others. Does he also happen to be a Gaelgóir of note? Is he an avid user of the Irish language or a native Irish speaker?

What checks were undertaken to affirm the love of the Irish language which inspired him to such a patriotic act? What references or recommendations were sought? Was the Garda or any appropriate person involved in the provision of information as to this man's proficiency in the Irish language? As I said, such changes are permitted under the Passports Act 2008, but evidence of use of name in Irish should have been sought. It is my understanding that a passport will issue in Irish only to those persons who can show they have been users of the language on a regular basis for a period of two years prior to their passport application.

Is it a regular occurrence that the Department of Foreign Affairs permits criminals to change their identity for the purposes of procuring documentation that would allow them to engage in international travel and perhaps international criminality? What checks were undertaken to ensure that this application was authentic? I understand the English version of the name can be maintained on the passport and, in this case, was entered as an observation. However, this was shown on a different page in the passport. If one flashes one's passport to a police officer, customs official or immigration official, there is nothing to show that one's name is also contained therein in English.

Did the Minister issue the passport under section 10(5) of the Passports Act 2008? Who processed the application and what is on file to show the appropriate checks took place? Did the passport officials know this man is a convicted criminal? What inquiries were made? If no inquiries were made, should they have been? Were any concerns raised by any party? What involvement had the Garda in this matter, whether local gardaí or otherwise? The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission is involved in an investigation of the individual in question. Will the Minister for Foreign Affairs hand over the passport file to the commission to facilitate this inquiry? This person has, under his Irish name, an international haulage licence, driving licence, insurance documentation and now a passport. He was never known for proficiency in the Irish language and there is no evidence that he was a lover of the language.

A genuine passport which passes all checks has been issued. However, it was issued by the State to facilitate a completely new identity. Jason Bourne, the fictional character of "The Bourne Supremacy" and "The Bourne Identity", would be proud of what the Department of Foreign Affairs has done in this case. It supplied this person with a completely new identity.

How can criminals be facilitated by the State in a change of name? I have questions for the Ministers for Transport and Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I ask that this man's driving licence be immediately revoked. However, I ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs to deal with the matter of the passport. The law needs to be reviewed if international criminals of Irish origin can be fitted out with completely new identities. In this case, the Department not only facilitated the fraud, but was instrumental in it. The law needs to be reviewed.

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