Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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398. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if an issue relating to a passport renewal for a person (details supplied) will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34705/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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All passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act, 2008 (“the Act”), which provides a legal basis for the various policies and practices which are applied by the Passport Service in the issue of passports.

Section 9 of the Act makes provision for the Minister to issue passports for different periods, for different categories of applicants and for the issue of passports in different circumstances.

Any adult citizen who loses an Irish passport can apply for and will be issued with a full 10 year passport.

Where the holder of a passport loses two or more in date passports, a passport of restricted duration will be issued. On expiry of this restricted passport, the applicant can apply for and may then be issued with a full 10 year passport.

The decision to restrict the validity of a passport is made following an examination of the applicant’s personal passport history.

The Irish passport is a valuable identity document and its integrity is paramount to the maintenance of the level of visa free access which Irish citizens enjoy into 93 countries worldwide.

I am advised that the Passport Service has corresponded with the individual concerned and has outlined the policy in this area in full. A passport application has not yet been received by the Passport Service.