Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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39. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the comments made by the Israeli ambassador to Ireland in an interview with a newspaper (details supplied); if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the ambassador stated he could not guarantee that Irish passports would not be forged again by the Israeli secret service, Mossad; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Mossad agents previously used forged Irish passports to assassinate a Palestinian in the United Arab Emirates; if he has discussed the issue with the ambassador; and the action he will take to ensure Mossad, or other foreign secret service agencies, cannot forge Irish passports. [31794/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the interview referred to by the Deputy and of the 2010 episode to which he also refers.

The use of forged Irish passports by Israel was firmly dealt with by the Government of the day.

Following the murder in Dubai of Mahmoud Al Mahbouh in 2010, a strong protest and condemnation was conveyed to the Israeli authorities, and an officer of their Embassy in Dublin was expelled. This information is already on the record of the House.

At my request, my officials have been in contact with the Ambassador following the publication of the interview in question to make clear that an incident such as that which took place in 2010 should never again occur.

Any abuse of Irish passports is a matter which I view with the utmost seriousness as it could affect the safety and security of Irish citizens when they travel.

I am determined to maintain the integrity and strong international reputation of the Irish passport as one of the most secure in the world. Significant investment is being made as part of the passport reform programme in enhanced facial recognition technology along with other measures to minimise the potential for fraud, forgery or identity theft.