Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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374. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department plans to introduce vaccination passports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3881/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Passports are internationally recognised travel documents that attest to the identity and nationality of the bearer. The Irish passport is a highly valued identity document and its integrity is paramount to the maintenance of the level of visa-free access that Irish citizens enjoy to 93 countries worldwide today. Any changes to the format of the Irish passport must be fully compliant with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulations and standards.

The ICAO is a UN specialised agency which defines in detail the required format for a passport.

The ICAO has nominated experts to participate in the established WHO Smart Vaccination expert group. The expert group has three work streams which will work with the objective to provide a framework and related specifications for reliable and secure vaccine certification.

Officials from the Passport Service were briefed on the work of the expert group on 21 January 2020.

My Department currently has no plans to introduce vaccination passports. The HSE is planning for the production of vaccine certificates at part of its implementation planning for a COVID-19 vaccination programme.