Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I am inclined to support the Minister of State in this instance at the risk of being regarded as right-wing or conservative. The word "might" is used in section 12(1)(c)(i), (ii) and (iv), whereas the word "would" is used in section 12(1)(c)(iii). This section gives the Government of the day the right to refuse a passport to a person who would be likely in the opinion of the Minister, after consultation, to engage in conduct that, to quote the Bill, "would be contrary to the common good". I am not sure that I want people who engage in conduct that "would be contrary to the common good", to quote the Bill, to be able to get passports. I can understand the balance we are trying to strike. Some countries make it difficult to get passports because they want to protect the right of their citizens to be the only people to access such passports. If a person claims to be entitled to the passport of one of these countries, he or she has to fight very hard to get it. I would like our passports to be valued very strongly. If a Minister refuses a passport application on the basis that the applicant is acting in a manner that, to quote the Bill, "would be contrary to the common good", I will support him or her.