Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

Section 6(1) of the Bill gives a citizen of Ireland the right to apply for a passport. Section 6(2) requires applications to be made in a certain form and to be accompanied by certain information and documents. In other words, a citizen can choose whether to apply for a passport. If he or she chooses to apply, the application must satisfy a number of mandatory requirements. If I were to accept this amendment, I could make it mandatory for a citizen to apply for a passport. I cannot agree to include such a provision in the Bill. While citizens have a right to hold a passport, they are not and should not be obliged to apply for one.