Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

While I understand the rationale and intentions behind the amendment, passports have, since the foundation of the State, been issued by the Minister for Foreign Affairs under the executive power of the State and on the authority of the Government. This practice is perfectly legitimate. Enactment of the Passports Bill will simply add a legislative basis to the exercise of this function. Passports previously issued will not be invalidated because of the technical change in the basis on which passports are issued. For this reason, the amendment is not necessary and I cannot accept it.