Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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324. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will address concerns raised (details supplied) regarding the new process on passport applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25547/17]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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332. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if persons applying for a passport from autumn 2017 will need to have a public services card; the reason for this change; if he has considered the negative consequences it will have for persons living in Northern Ireland; and his views on whether it impinges and places unnecessary burdens on the right of Irish citizens resident there to apply for Irish passports. [25675/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 324 and 332 together.

The Public Services Card (PSC) is designed to assist people in accessing a range of Government services from different departments. It is not confined to passports. As such there are no plans to make holding the Public Services Card a requirement for passport applicants who are not resident in the State. Passport applications from Northern Ireland and elsewhere will continue to be subject to the highest standards of verification and the documentary requirements are kept under continual review.

As well as acting as a key to more efficient and better-run public services, the PSC is helping to eliminate fraud. Robust anti-fraud measures are essential to protect the integrity of the Irish passport.

The PSC is already a requirement for first-time passport applicants. It is intended to extend the requirement to passport renewal applications later this year and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is currently working with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Social Protection on the modalities for the extension (including a comprehensive public information component).