Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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129. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason passport applications can no longer be witnessed by dentists who are not relatives; when this was changed; if he will reconsider reintroducing that profession as a criteria of persons that are able to witness passport applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25682/14]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The list of approved individuals who can witness passport applications for Irish citizens resident outside of the State is reviewed periodically. The current list of witnesses extends to over ten different categories. Dentists have not been included on this list of witnesses for many years. The question of changes to the witnessing regime is currently being examined by the Passport Service. Pending completion of this examination I do not envisage extending the list of approved witnesses.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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130. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason a passport has not been issued to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if he will expedite an early response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25758/14]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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All passport applications are subject to the provision of Passports Act, 2008 (the Act). The issue of a passport is, therefore, the culmination of an important and legally-binding process. The checks and balances within the passport process embrace the standard principles that are provided for in the Act and help to ensure that the identity of the applicant is known and that the person in question is an Irish citizen. This serves to maintain the worldwide good reputation and integrity of the Irish passport, which, in turn, ensures the safe travel and wellbeing of Irish citizens, as they travel abroad. Moreover, it helps to combat passport and identity fraud.The Act underpins a long-standing passport policy in regard to the use of verifiable civil documents such civil birth certificates for first-time applicants. These documents confirm the details of a person’s birth name, date and place of birth, all of which are critical components of a person’s identity. The Passport Service received an application from the person in question on 20/06/2012. As part of the standard examination processes, the birth certificate supplied by the applicant was found not to be authentic. The applicant subsequently produced another birth certificate which has also been confirmed as not a genuine document.

In the circumstances the Passport Service could not be satisfied as to the identity of the applicant and as a result, the application for an Irish passport could not be approved. The matter has been referred to the Department of Justice and Equality.