Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 228: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the assistance that will be given to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford in regard to obtaining an appropriate travel document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1622/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The person concerned made an application for a travel document in April 2006 and was refused as no documentary evidence was provided to support his claim that he needed to travel to obtain his own national passport. The person in question was asked for such documentation in a letter issued on 5 April 2006 but to date this has not been provided. In the event that the person in question wishes to reapply for a temporary travel document he will be required to provide the documentation as requested in the letter of 5 April 2006.

Temporary Travel Documents issued by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department are never intended to be issued as a substitute for a passport from a person's country of nationality. These documents are issued under strict guidelines for specific categories of persons. It is only in certain exceptional circumstances, supported by appropriate documentary evidence, that a temporary Travel Document would be considered outside the specific categories.