James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for Transport if an airline (details supplied) is an official Government agency; if not, the reason it is permissible for the airline to require passengers checking in on-line to provide details of passport number and expiry date of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34468/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The airline in question is a privately owned company.

For aviation security purposes, my Department requires that all airlines operating air services domestically and within the Common Travel Area (CTA) conduct a check to reconcile a passenger's boarding card with an appropriate form of identification before boarding. In consultation with the Departments of Justice, Equality & Law Reform and Foreign Affairs and An Garda Síochána, my Department drew up a list of forms of identification acceptable for this purpose and this list has been communicated to all airlines operating domestically or within the CTA. This list includes passports.

Individual airlines may decide which forms of identification, from this approved list, they will accept for travel on services operated by them. Their requirements as regards acceptable forms of identification are set down in the terms and conditions provided to passengers when booking and purchasing tickets.