Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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384. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact police officers in the UK have been ordered to refuse to sign passport renewal applications for Irish citizens seeking Irish passport renewals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16042/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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My Department has an extensive list of eligible witnesses for passport application forms for citizens who are resident outside of Ireland. This list is available on the Passport Service website at www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/great-britain/passports/top-passport-questions/how-to-get-your-passport-application-witnessed/. It is not a requirement to know the applicant, but to be satisfied as to his or her identity.

The Passport Service is not aware of new instructions relating to witnessing issued to the police authorities in the United Kingdom. However, it should be noted that there is no obligation on any witness to undertake the role.

As part of the Passport Reform Programme, an online passport application service is now available for adult Irish citizens renewing their passport. This service allows citizens to renew their passport books and cards online from wherever they are in the world. It removes the requirement to have a paper form witnessed and is a fast, secure and convenient way to renew a passport.