Written answers

Thursday, 19 January 2012

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Passport Service

4:00 pm

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 59: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of passports that have been stolen, lost or mislaid in each of the years 2009, 2010 and 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3225/12]

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Details of the numbers of passports reported as lost, stolen or mislaid since 2009 are set out in the table below.

YEARPASSPORTS ISSUEDLOST or MISLAIDSTOLENTOTAL% OF PASSPORTS ISSUED
2009579,50829,8014,82134,6225.97%
2010603,75326,4054,38230,7875.09%
2011599,46826,1514,29530,4465.07%

Individual citizens are primarily responsible for the safe keeping of their own passports. In this regard the Department is constantly urging that passports should always be kept in a secure place and that citizens take particular care of the document when travelling. However, passports are lost and the Department strongly advises that citizens notify the Passport Service of any lost passport at the earliest opportunity.

Once a passport is reported lost, this information is relayed to Interpol through An Garda Síochána. Interpol receives these updates on a daily basis. The information is then made available immediately to police forces and border control officers worldwide. Any individual who attempts to travel on a lost or stolen passport will as a result most likely be stopped at border control points.

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