Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the criteria pertaining to obtaining Irish language versions of passports; if it is the case that only the name on the applicants official birth certificate is acceptable and that this negates against those wishing to use the Irish version of their name; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55504/12]

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

At the outset, I should point out that the standard printed text detail on each passport is jointly in the Irish and English languages. Other languages appear in a much smaller degree in the text on the data and observation pages of the book. The text and format of this print meets ICAO standards and is consistent with best international practice.

In terms of the name that can appear on a passport, Section 10 of the Passports Act, 2008 (the Act) broadly provides that a passport will issue in the name of a citizen as it appears on his/her birth certificate. If the Irish form of the name is registered on the birth certificate, then this is the name which would appear on the passport. However, name change from that which appears on a person’s birth certificate is permitted under the Act for example in situations such as marriage.

Moreover, where the requested name to appear on the passport is the Irish version of the English registered birth name, the Passport Service requires evidence of the use of this new name and identity over a two year period. There is discretion under the Act in terms of the two year proof of usage requirement. While such discretion has been normally applied in the past in cases of domestic abuse etc, care must be taken to mitigate the risk that name change requests are being used for identity swapping purposes. Such activity would put the high international regard for the integrity of the Irish passport at risk.

The Passport Service has put in place an alternative option to assist citizens who wish to use the Irish form of his/her name, but who lack the necessary two years proof of use. In these circumstances the birth cert name will continue to be personalised on the passport with, additionally, the Irish form of the name added as an observation on his/her passport. Once the two year proof of usage has been obtained, the passport holder can re-apply for a new passport in his/her Irish name without any observation.

This policy seeks to protect the integrity and security of our passports against passport or identity fraud, while at the same time facilitating those genuine citizens, who wish to use the Irish language more frequently in their daily lives.