Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 54: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the nature of any outstanding requirements in respect of the issue of a passport in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20652/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The position in this case was outlined previously to the Deputy in my reply to Question No. 83 of 17 May, 2011. This stated that the Passports Act 2008 requires that before issuing a passport to a person, the Minister for Foreign Affairs shall be satisfied as to the identity of each applicant and that the person is an Irish citizen. Documentary evidence such as birth certificates are among the standard documents that are required for all applications that involve children and persons, aged 18 and over the age, who are first–time applicants. These certificates are particularly critical to the passport process in terms of identity. In the case of the person in question, his application was supported, inter alia, by an affidavit about his birth details. In line with passport policy, the Department wrote to him on 31 March, 2011 requesting him to provide his birth certificate and to provide additional ID such as his Angolan passport.

The position is unchanged from my reply on 17 May in that the details of his birth affidavit remain to be verified. The Department has inquired into the status and completeness of civil records of births in Angola with the assistance of the Irish Embassy in Maputo which is accredited to that country. These are ongoing. As soon as this information is received by the Passport Service, the application in question will be finalised and the applicant will be advised accordingly.