Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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322. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Government has issued passports to members of an organisation (details supplied) who are banned from entering the United States of America; and if he plans to withhold passports from citizens convicted of international drug dealing and serial criminality. [27589/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Passport Service cannot comment on whether or not named individuals are currently Irish passport holders. 

Under the provisions of Section 12(1)(C) of the Passports Act 2008, the Minister can, in certain circumstances, refuse to issue a passport.

Any decision by the Minister to withhold passports from citizens convicted of international drug dealing and serial criminality would primarily be based on security advice forwarded to the Minister, by one or both of the Government Departments charged with responsibility for the security of the State.

Should such advices be received by the Minister, in respect of citizens convicted of international drug dealing and serial criminality, they will be given due consideration within the parameters of the Passports Act 2008 and in particular Section 12(1)(C).