Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 372: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport can be issued to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15259/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Only an Irish citizen is entitled to be issued with an Irish passport. The person, to whom the Deputy refers, is not entitled to Irish citizenship through descent as neither of her parents was an Irish citizen at the time of her birth. Under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts, 1956 to 2004, the basic requirement for obtaining citizenship by descent, through what is called foreign births registration, is that the applicant's parent was an Irish citizen when the applicant was born. There is no provision in law for an exception to be made to the statutory requirements.

The only means open to the person to become an Irish citizen would be through naturalisation. Consideration of all applications for naturalisation is a matter for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.