Barry Ward (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This is not the first time I have raised this issue. I am asking that we put an accommodation in our passports to allow those whose names differ from those of their children not to be delayed at passport checks here or abroad and to make it easy to identify that children travelling with an adult are lawfully travelling with him or her, are his or her children or whatever the case may be. This is about flexibility. The issues raised about this issue previously concerned the general data protection regulation, GDPR, which does not really apply because passports contain sensitive personal data in any event. I am asking not for a mandatory provision in a passport but rather an accommodation and flexibility that would allow people to avail of it if is something they need or that suits them. I do not think the GPDR is an issue.

The other answer I received previously was that this is not part of the normal format of a passport but what I am talking about here is not something that would go into the dictated page - the photographed page of a passport that is standard across Europe and presumably most of the world - but rather something that would accommodate that. We have a passport that is beautifully designed. It is a source of enormous pride for Irish people as they hold their passport not just because it is by any metric one of the most valuable and respected passports in the world but also because of the design of the pages themselves. The images on them reflect the depth of the culture we associate with Ireland and Irish people abroad.

Ironically enough, I was in the Passport Office yesterday helping a constituent with a passport issue. It has put images of many old passports on the walls. There was a Free State passport from a lady from the late 1920s. Her children's names were listed on that passport. I also know that in the past, people could put their children on their passport and that was the document they used to travel. I recognise the security issues with that. Again, I am not saying this would be the only travel document for children but several people have contacted me from my local area, particularly women, and in the week of International Women's Day, which is tomorrow, it is appropriate that we would raise this issue. It involves women travelling who have a different name to that of their children, for example, if a woman's name is Murphy but her children have their father's name, which is Byrne. If they go to passport control, not unreasonably, the officer there wants to establish that the children travelling with this woman are her children or are lawfully entitled to travel with her. Those women have to carry the birth certificates of their children with them to identify the children as being their own and it is really cumbersome. I am asking that there be a page opposite the photograph page of the passport, which contains the important identification data about the passport holder, where this information could be contained. The names of the parents could be listed on the child's passport or the children's names on the parents' passports so there is an easy and official way to help border control officials identify children travelling with an adult.

It is done on Irish passports in other spheres. For example, the spouse of an Irish diplomat have a diplomatic passport and information that he or she is the spouse of the ambassador or the first secretary will be listed opposite the photograph page. Diplomatic passports held by Oireachtas Members have information opposite the photograph setting out why they have a diplomatic passport. In my case, it is because I am a Senator and in the case of the Minister of State, it will because he is a Deputy so there is a way this can be done. It will help women, people whose names differ from those of their children and people in same-sex relationships with children. A number of people will benefit from this. What I am talking about is just putting in place an accommodation and modifying the passport not in a way that takes it out of international norms or security requirements that are reasonably there and that we must respect but in a way that accommodates our citizens as they travel across the world. It is something we can do to make Irish citizens' lives easier.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for a very practical and sensible Commencement matter.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Before I respond to the Senator, I wish to put on record the fact that a phenomenal number of passports were issued by the passport service last year because demand was unprecedented. I expect demand this year will be equally as strong. I visited some of the staff in the service along with the call centre in Limerick recently where 48 people are worked flat out answering calls. On the day I was down there, the centre received 3,000 phone calls and handled them expertly. I thank the professional staff across the passport service for their work. A passport is an internationally recognised travel document that attests to the identity and nationality of the bearer. The Department follows recommendations from the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO, on the data that is held on the passport. The ICAO is an international body that develops polices and standards for aviation, safety and security. A passport document, therefore, is about safety and security.

All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008, as amended. The Act provides a legal basis for various policies and procedures that are applied by the passport service in the issuing of passports. Section 10 of the Act provides that a passport will issue in the name of a citizen as it appears on his or her birth certificate or naturalisation certificate.

The function of the data held on a passport is to confirm the passport holder's identity and nationality. The passport service does not include parents' names on children's passports nor is it required by the provisions of the Passports Act.

A passport for a minor under the age of 18 is valid for five years. It is important to note that it is possible that the guardianship circumstances of a child can change. As a result, parental links that were in place at the time of the passport application may subsequently become invalid. The child may also become an adult during the validity period of his or her passport.

A child travelling abroad must have their own passport and cannot be included on his or her parent's passport, which has been recognised by the Senator. The practice of allowing children to be included on a parent's passport is being phased out internationally. This is intended to make international travel more safe and secure for children because we have often heard of the situation where one parent can, if listed as the parent, take the child out of a jurisdiction against the wishes of the other parent. The previous practice of including a child on a parent's passport meant that the child was not identified via photograph prior to travel.

I understand that situations where a parent is travelling with their child who does not share the same surname and the parent is requested to produce further documentation confirming the parental link. Border control authorities may also request extra documentation when children travel either unaccompanied or with an accompanying person who is not their parent. The purpose of border control authorities requesting further documentation is to help combat the trafficking or smuggling of children, as well as to prevent children from absconding or from being abducted. The Senator referred to this particular aspect whereby a mother or parent must produce a birth certificate when travelling because additional documentation may be needed. It is important that the passport service would make that more specifically well known so that people know what to expect rather than find themselves in difficulty for not having a particular document when they arrive at an airport or the other place of trave.

The website of the Department of Foreign Affairs contains information for adults travelling with children and outlines the additional documentation they may be required to carry, depending on the country to which they are travelling. I ask that this be advertised prominently.

The passport service does not have any plans to expand the purpose of a passport to indicate a parental relationship between a child and his or her parent or parents. It will continue to consider ways in which to enhance this essential citizens' service. I know that this is a disappointing response for the Senator but there are no plans in place, notwithstanding the points that he made.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. Before I call on Senator Ward to ask a supplementary question, I would like to welcome a group from St. Mary's school in Arklow, County Wicklow, to the Public Gallery. I hope that they have a very enjoyable day in Leinster House and find it not just enjoyable but informative as well.

Barry Ward (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I find it difficult to disagree with anything that the Minister of State has said as it is all correct. I join with him in his praise of the passport service. I had another positive experience there yesterday when I went into the Passport Office. The staff are considerate, professional and helpful. In fact, I received a text from a constituent this morning to tell me that he had submitted a passport application for his son on Sunday and received the passport this morning. There is no doubt that we can all be very proud of the passport service.

On the response, I hear what the Minister of State is saying. I do not want to in any diminish the security of our passports. Another feature of the Irish passport is the extent to which it is secure and reliable. The funny thing is what I propose does not diminish that security, first. Second, parents can still go through with the birth certificate but it does not mean that they cannot abduct children from the jurisdiction. Of course, we need to put in place whatever safeguards that we can to prevent that from happening. What I am talking about is not something that is going to compromise the security of the passport. It is something that is going to, as the Minister of State said, "enhance the essential citizens' service" that the passport service provides. Of course, it is something that is not required by the Act but it is something that can be done and it is something that I think we should do in order to enhance the ease of access by Irish citizens to different jurisdictions. There is a real opportunity here.I am sorry the Department does not see the way that this could happen. I hope they would give it consideration in future without compromising any elements of the Irish passport, to provide an additional measure for Irish parents.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for the reasonable point he has made. The issue of security has, in a way, trumped the valid points he makes. One can also understand and appreciate cases, and I am sure we all know of such cases, where parents fall out and they have been through courts and through separation. Perhaps one parent is not allowed to have access to his or her own son or daughter, as the case may be. The idea that just because a parent's name is on the passport it might help him or her get through a security check is something we must guard against. That situation could arise during the course of a five-year period when the passport is in operation.

The Irish passport was recently ranked sixth in the global Henley Passport Index, as it provides our citizens with a visa-free access to 188 countries. This is because people recognise the high standards that we have. I encourage the parents of children who are due to travel to review their travel arrangements and the requirements of the country to which they are travelling, in advance of their journey, so they do not meet the difficulties at the far end as Senator Ward has mentioned.

The Passport Office will continue to consider ways through which to enhance this essential service to citizens. I must stress, however, that there are no plans to make changes at the moment.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, for attending the House. I thank Senator Ward for his Commencement matter.