Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 226: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to issue passports for periods shorter than the 10-year minimum to facilitate citizens in their 60s who will not be liable to any charge when they reach retirement age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44008/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 221 and 226 together.

Citizens over the age of 65 are currently entitled to a passport free of charge. Introducing an arrangement whereby adults of any age would be eligible to apply for a passport for a period of less than 10 years would increase the total demand for passports and thereby require the recruitment of additional staff, something which cannot be accommodated in context of the public finances. In addition, because the logic behind such a suggestion is that such persons would pay a fee lower than that due for a 10 year passport, the significant gap between the fee paid and the cost of producing the passport would have to be met by the taxpayer. For these reasons, I have no plans to introduce passports of less than 10 year validity for adult applicants, regardless of age.