Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

83. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the criteria for applying for a first-time passport for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27412/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports act, 2008 (“the Act”). This act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to him/her. In order to meet this legal requirement, each person must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship in his/her application.

Entitlement to Irish citizenship is governed by Irish law and in particular the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, under which and in general, Irish citizenship may be obtained by birth in the island of Ireland to parents meeting specified requirements, by descent, or by naturalisation.

A child born in Ireland prior to 1 January 2005 is automatically an Irish citizen and only the birth certificate of the child is required to prove entitlement to Irish citizen. If the child was born on or after 1 January 2005 entitlement to Irish citizenship is dependent on the citizenship of the parent through whom the child is claiming Irish citizenship. If the parent is an Irish citizen, the passport application should include evidence of the citizenship of the parent, which is the original birth certificate or the Irish passport of that parent.