Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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58. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the procedure and criteria by which diplomatic passports are issued; when they may be used; the number of current serving members of the Oireachtas that hold diplomatic passports; if former members are entitled to retain and use diplomatic passports; if there has been misuse of these passports and the actions taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39971/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Diplomatic passports are issued to Irish diplomats serving overseas and to members of the Oireachtas and the Judiciary who have reason to travel outside the State on official business. Applications are only approved for those who are Irish citizens and can demonstrate that they require a passport for travel to undertake official business on behalf of the State. Passports received may only be used for this official travel. 73 current serving members of the Oireachtas hold diplomatic passports. A memo for information of the government earlier this year clarified the exact circumstances in which a diplomatic passport can be obtained and used. Following this clarification there were a small number of citizens who held diplomatic passports in respect of previous official positions/roles or in respect of roles which fell outside of the terms of the proposed new arrangements. My Department contacted these individuals to facilitate their return of these passports. These passports are no longer valid for travel.