Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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721. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will consider amending children's passports to include the full name of the child's parents or guardians given that the changing nature of family composition and the reduction in women adopting a married name means that many children do not share the surname of their parent which in turn creates difficulty for travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19674/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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A passport is an internationally recognised travel document which attests to the identity and nationality of the bearer. All passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act, 2008, as amended (“the Act“). The Act provides a legal basis for the various policies and procedures that are applied by the Passport Service in the issue of passports.

Section 10 of the Act provides that a passport will issue in the name of a citizen as it appears on his/her birth certificate or naturalisation certificate. 

The Passport Service does not have any plans to expand the purpose of a passport to indicate a parental relationship between a child and his/her parent(s).

Parents are encouraged to complete the emergency contact details page at the back of their child’s passport which may assist in this matter, in particular for those parents and children with different surnames.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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723. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if consideration is being given to reducing the two-year waiting time on compassionate grounds for a person (details supplied) to change their name on their passport after having their name changed by deed poll; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19683/22]

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

Section 10 of the Act provides that a passport will issue in the name of a citizen as it appears on his/her birth certificate or naturalisation certificate. However, a name change for a passport from that which appears on a person’s birth certificate is permitted under the Act in situations such as marriage, civil partnership etc. where civil, or legal documents are available to verify this change

In cases where name change arises, other than by marriage or civil partnership etc, the Act requires evidence of the use of this new name over a two year period.

The question of what a person’s name is at any given moment in time depends upon its usage and the evidence to support the constant and sustained use of this new identity.  Evidence of this for at least two years’ through documentation such as bills/bank statements/official correspondence is required as a deed poll is not adequate evidence of the constant use of a new name.  This policy seeks to protect the integrity and security of the Irish passports against passport and identity fraud while allowing for genuine cases where name changes have occurred. The Passport Service takes its responsibility to protect the integrity of the Irish passport very seriously.  The Irish passport has a strong international reputation due to the strength of the security features within the passport book and the robust processes involved in its issuance. The Irish passport was recently ranked 5th in the Henley Global Passport Index as it provides our citizens with visa-free access to 187 countries.