Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way in which a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath can receive an Irish passport; the way in which he should proceed in order to obtain such a passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3669/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Only Irish citizens may obtain an Irish passport. Documentary evidence must be provided to confirm an applicant's entitlement to Irish citizenship when first making an application for a passport. On the basis of the information provided by the Deputy, it is not clear on what precise basis the person in question is claiming citizenship. I will therefore outline the requirements which may apply in this case.

As I understand from the Deputy's correspondence, the person in question was born in the US. He would be automatically entitled to Irish citizenship if one of his parents was born in Ireland, as seems to be suggested. The passport office would require the birth certificate and marriage certificate of the parent to show that he-she was born in Ireland and that the person in question was, therefore, entitled to citizenship. Inquiries concerning birth registration in Ireland should be made to the General Register Office, Government Offices, Convent Road, Roscommon. Telephone LoCall: 1890 252076. If such inquiries have been made but have been unsuccessful in tracing his father's birth record, the person in question should contact the passport office to establish what alternative evidence of birth in Ireland might be acceptable.

However, if it is the case that the person in question and both of his parents were born outside of Ireland and that he is claiming citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland, then he would be required to have his birth entered on the foreign births register held by my Department before he would be eligible to apply for a passport. Relevant birth and marriage certificates would be required in support of this.

It would be best if the Deputy would ask the person in question to make contact with the passport officer at telephone 01 6733046. We could then try to help clarify his claim to citizenship and also advise him on how best to proceed.