Written answers

Thursday, 20 January 2011

Department of Foreign Affairs

Passport Applications

5:00 am

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 157: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will review the policy of not returning passports which have been found (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3084/11]

Photo of Brian CowenBrian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the policy to protect the integrity, security and international reputation of the Irish passport, all passports which are reported lost or stolen are immediately cancelled. This cancellation notice is circulated to worldwide border control agencies through Interpol on a daily basis. This policy equally applies to those passports which are found by third parties and returned to the Passport Service. The policy has been developed in accordance with EU regulations and our international obligations to other States in relation to lost and stolen passports.

In relation to this specific case, the Passport Service received the passport from a third party. As the Passport Service could not be certain as to who had possession of the passport immediately before it was found, the only option available was to cancel the passport and to notify this cancellation to Interpol. This is normal policy and, whereas it may unfortunately be inconvenient for the passport holder, it is necessary and essential to ensure that the passport has not been compromised in any way. It should also be noted that where a citizen has a poor passport record, such as in the case where two or more passports have been lost, restrictions will apply to the validity period of the next passport obtained. The general advice to citizens remains that passports are valuable documents and should be kept it in a safe place while at home and looked after carefully when travelling.

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