Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 358: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of Irish passports which were reported lost or stolen here and outside the country in 2007 and to date in 2008; the number in each category which have subsequently turned up as forged passports which were presented at Irish entry points or abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41016/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The figures for Irish passports reported as lost or stolen for 2007 and from 1 January to 13 November 2008 are:

These figures are in line with other comparable countries. Stolen passports represent less than 1% of the total issued.

Since 2006, all passports reported lost or stolen are notified through An Garda Síochána to Interpol. This procedure is designed to reduce the risk of travel on forged documents.

Applicants, who report a previous passport as lost or stolen, are advised not to travel on such a passport if it is subsequently recovered. Wording to this effect is incorporated into the passport application form. Nevertheless, a small number of individuals mistakenly use a passport previously reported as lost or stolen.

In 2007, 27 Irish citizens were delayed at international border controls because they were travelling on passports which had been reported as lost or stolen. In each case, Interpol contacted the Passport Office to verify the identity of the travellers. None of these cases involved forged passports.

Over the period 1 January to 13 November 2008, some 68 citizens have been delayed for the same reason. Again, n one of these cases involved forged documents.

However, in 2006, shortly after Ireland commenced providing Interpol with details of lost and stolen passports, three persons were detected travelling on forged Irish passports that had previously been reported lost or stolen. One of these cases was detected by the Garda National Immigration Bureau at Dublin Airport while the other two arose in the UK.

The new and more secure Irish Passport was introduced on a phased basis from December 2004. In addition to extensive traditional print security features, the laser engraved polycarbonate datapage ensures that the Irish passport is a highly fraud-resistant document. The security features are easily authenticated by the relevant authorities, including border agencies.

The introduction of the biometric or e-passport on 16 October 2006 further enhanced these security features. The presence of a microchip, containing a digital image of the holder, has meant that any photo substitution can now be more readily and easily detected. These improvements mean that it has become very difficult for a forger to alter a lost or stolen passport.