Written answers

Wednesday, 19 January 2022

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Passport Services

Photo of Jackie CahillJackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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617. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when the online passport tracker for persons (details supplied) will update to more accurately reflect their true estimated issue date given that the current estimated date is October 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62979/21]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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First time passport applications are necessarily complex to process, since they are essentially applications for Irish citizenship. The Passport Service must validate the true identity of the applicant and take measures to confirm the applicant’s entitlement to Irish citizenship.

Passport applications are valid for six months for a number of reasons including International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulations on the requirement for a recent photograph. The ICAO is a UN specialised agency which defines in detail the required format for a passport. This timeframe also ensures that a refund of the fees can be processed electronically where required.

With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, these applications were incomplete and cannot be processed to passport issue under the Passports Act 2008, as amended.  In light of this and given that the validity of the applications has expired, they been cancelled.  The Passport Service has been in direct contact with the applicants' parent to advise them of the situation and to arrange a refund of the passport fees.  In addition, a follow up letter has been issued by the Passport Service to the parents of these applicants to explain in detail the requirements for any future passport application for their children.

Photo of Niamh SmythNiamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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618. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); if he will provide an update on these matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63090/21]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service cannot process an application until the required supporting documents have been received. The Passport Service has provided an update to the applicant's guardian as to the steps they must take to progress the passport application.

Photo of Niamh SmythNiamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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619. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); if he will provide an update on these matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63092/21]

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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652. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when a passport will be dispatched to a person (details supplied) given that it is urgently required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1312/22]

Photo of Niamh SmythNiamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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660. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will review an urgent passport application in the case of a person (details supplied); if same will be expedited based on medical needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1788/22]

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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666. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when a passport will be provided for a child (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2182/22]

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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668. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when a passport will issue for a person (details supplied) in view of the fact that the estimated issue date for this passport was 1 December 2021. [2229/22]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 619, 652, 660, 666 and 668 together.

With regard to the passport applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to these applicants. 

Photo of Jackie CahillJackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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620. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the passport for a person (details supplied) can be progressed given that the parent applying on behalf of the child is the sole guardian and the further documentation that has been requested by the Passport Office specifically relating to the other parent upon which the child’s citizenship claim is based cannot be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63096/21]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service cannot process an application until the required supporting documents have been received. The Passport Service has provided an update to the applicant's guardian as to the steps they must take to progress the passport application.

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