Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 321: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who was born in England to Irish parents requires a copy of their marriage certificate in order for the person concerned to apply for an Irish passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24607/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Every applicant for an Irish passport must first establish that he or she is an Irish citizen. In this case, the person in question applied for a passport on 28 July, 2008. As evidence of citizenship, she submitted her birth certificate which established that she was born in the UK. This certificate provided the names of both parents and stated that their place of birth was Ireland. The applicant also submitted her father's birth certificate which confirmed that he was born in County Laois.

Where, as in this case, a person born abroad to an Irish-born parent, applies for a passport for the first time, the marriage certificate of the parents is also sought. This requirement is also stated in the detailed notes that accompany the passport application form. The reason for seeking a marriage certificate, where available, is to further verify the link between the applicant and an Irish-born parent and thereby reduce the potential for fraud. However, a marriage certificate is frequently not obtainable and this practice is currently under review by the Passport Office.

Unfortunately, the applicant in question did not submit her parents' marriage certificate with her application. On 31 July, 2008 my Department wrote to her requesting the submission of her parents' marriage certificate. No reply to this letter has been received by my Department to date. It is open to the applicant to pursue her application for a passport. If she wishes to do so, she should contact Mr Kevin Walzer of the Passport Office at (01) 6733215 or by e-mail to kevin.walzer@dfa.ie.