Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 90: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the current policy in relation to renewal of Irish passports by Irish-born citizens who are currently resident in the UK. [2025/12]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 91: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding a non-resident (details supplied) who is seeking to renew their Irish passport. [2026/12]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 91 together.

The Passports Act, 2008 requires that before issuing a passport to a person, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade shall be satisfied as to the identity of each applicant and that the person is an Irish citizen. Documentary proof in respect of identity and entitlement to citizenship are required for all passport applications. These requirements are outlined in the passport application form notes that accompany each application form. Details are also available on the Department's website www.passport.ie.

In the context of mitigating the risk of passport fraud the Department requires that those witnessing passport applications certify that that they are satisfied as to the identity of the applicant. For those Irish citizens who are resident overseas this would ordinarily mean that the witness would also live overseas and that the application is submitted through the nearest Irish Embassy or Consulate. A separate application for APS2 E (English version) and APS 2G (Irish version) are used for this purpose. For citizens resident overseas the range of those who may witness applications is very extensive and significantly beyond the requirement for citizens resident in the State, who may only have their application witnessed by a member of An Garda Síochána. The list of acceptable witnesses include police officers, a member of the clergy, medical doctor, lawyer, bank manager, elected public representative, notary public/commissioner for oaths, peace commissioner, school principals/vice principal or accountant.

The last passport recorded as having been issued to a person of the name and details supplied was a passport of one year's validity, expiring in October 2004. Given that the previous passport for this citizen had been reported as lost; the length of time which has passed since the expiry of its passport; the fact that the application was submitted in Ireland for someone resident overseas who would have had to travel to Ireland without a passport, the Passport Service sought to exercise additional care in relation to this application. The request to have the application witnessed by a person in the applicant's country of residence – in this case Britain - who could identify the applicant and that it be submitted through the Passport Office in London, which is best placed to confirm the bona fides of the witness, was prudent and appropriate, consistent with policy, and served to minimise the risk of identity theft and fraud.

I have asked the Passport Service to assist the citizen in resolving any outstanding issues with the application. If he makes contact with Ms. Assumpta Griffin, Head of the London Office, or Ms. Fiona Penollar, Head of the Molesworth Street Office in Dublin, whichever is most convenient to him, they will assist in processing his application at the earliest opportunity.