Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

This is the first Bill dealing with passports for a considerable period and was overdue. I commend Senator Alex White on his amendments and the manner in which matters were teased out, primarily between him and the Minister of State.

The Minister used the word "calibration" and the manner in which entries can appear on passports. Since the Bill was introduced, a scenario was brought to my attention whereby a citizen has an entry stamped or written on a passport inadvertently by an immigration or customs officer in another land. It can be entered into what the Minister of State referred to as "the system", which may, in turn, preclude the citizen from future entry into other states. I know one case of an Irish citizen precluded from travelling to the United States because of such an entry in his passport. While I accept it is a separate matter which I must take up with the Minister of State, I welcome the legislation and commend the Minister of State and his officials.