Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 109: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of emergency passports issued by Irish embassies for the years 2008, 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011; the criteria required in order to obtain an emergency passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27562/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Passports Act 2008, details the circumstances in which the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade may offer emergency travel facilities to Irish citizens. Section 15 of the Act provides that the Minister may issue an emergency passport to a person where (a ) a passport that was issued to the person has been lost, stolen or damaged or is temporarily unavailable or the person does not hold a valid passport, (b ) the person provides evidence of his or her intention to undertake travel immediately for which a passport is required, and (c ) by reason of the circumstances of urgency in relation to the application, there is insufficient time in which to issue a passport other than an emergency passport to the person.

The Act further provides that these facilities may only be offered where the person is an Irish citizen and upon receipt of a completed passport application form accompanied by information and documents to support the application. These include proof of identity e.g. a copy of an old passport, drivers license etc; entitlement to an Irish passport – e.g. long form birth certificate, proof of residence e.g. address of permanent or hotel residence and proof of travel for a which a passport is required.

The number of emergency passports issued between 2008 and 29 September 2011 is as follows.