Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 389: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views regarding reports that there has been a further abuse of Irish passports in recent developments in the United States where reports suggest a forged Irish passport has been recovered from a person. [29782/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I would refer the Deputy to my answer to Priority PQs Nos. 27 and 30 of today.

The current Irish passport system is one of the most secure in the world. The taxpayer has made significant investment in enhancing the security of our passports. The passport has been designed to ensure that the technologies used are those strictly controlled and mandated by the relevant international body, ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) in Montreal. Officers of the Passport Service meet regularly with other similar jurisdictions and ICAO to ensure that the Irish passport meets these international security demands and best practice.

While the fake Irish passports used by those suspected of involvement in the Dubai assassination were of a type produced before the introduction of the current APS Passport in 2005, it must be emphasised that these passports conformed fully to the highest international standards in place at that time. The passport was further enhanced in 2006 with the addition of a biometric chip, the Irish ePassport.

As forgery techniques advance, through the availability of more sophisticated production equipment, it is essential that the security of the Irish passport is kept under constant review. It is in this context I announced last week that I have requested the Passport Service to initiate an ongoing review of passport technology to ensure that the Irish passport continues to be a trusted and secure travel document. This review will include consultations with the ICAO Secretariat.

In regard to the issue of the alleged use of counterfeit Irish passports, on Sunday 27 June, U.S. federal agents arrested a number of people for allegedly carrying out long-term, "deep cover" assignments in the United States on behalf of the Russian Federation. The individuals were subsequently charged with conspiring to act as unlawful agents of the Russian Federation within the United States and in the case of some of the individuals additional charges related to money laundering. The affidavit lodged by the F.B.I. alleges that one of the defendants had travelled to Moscow using a false Irish passport.

Upon hearing of this allegation, I immediately asked the Passport Service to investigate the matter and to work in close cooperation with An Garda Síochána. Investigations are currently underway. They are at a very preliminary stage and therefore I am not in a position to provide more detail today.

At this time, what we are confronted with is an allegation in a US Court that an individual had travelled from Rome to Moscow on a false Irish passport. Our own investigating officers are working to establish the veracity of this allegation and to establish the nature of the evidence to substantiate this. Accordingly, it is premature to reach any conclusions or make representations to other Governments at this time.

I wish to see the current investigations concluded at the earliest opportunity. However, I am conscious that there is a legal process underway in the United States. I am sure Deputies would share with me the necessity not to comment or act in any way which might influence the outcome of these proceedings.