Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

293. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if it is correct that a person with permission to remain on the basis of refugee status who wishes to change their name from their maiden name to their married name on their documentation must first change their name on their passport; and if there is any alternative process, given that refugees may feel unsafe making contact with their country of origin for this purpose. [58581/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is not immediately clear from the Deputy’s question as to whether the person concerned holds the status of refugee or that of a discretionary permission to remain in the State, having first been refused international protection. In the event that the person concerned has been declared to be a refugee, then my Department would not require that person to engage with the consular authorities of their country of origin or place of habitual residence to procure a national passport, given that, as the Deputy correctly points out, it may not be safe for them to do so.

In circumstances where a person wishes to have their personal details updated on official records to reflect their married name, it is more likely that an original Marriage Certificate would be sought. In some limited instances a Statutory Declaration may be required.

In circumstances where a person applied for international protection and was refused both a refugee declaration and a subsidiary protection declaration but was granted a discretionary permission to remain in the State, under the relevant provisions of the International Protection Act 2015, there would be no barrier to that person being required to engage with the consular authorities of their country of origin or place of habitual residence to procure a national passport.

Any request from a person to have their personal details updated on official records to reflect their married name would be made easier where supported by having already been reflected in that person’s national passport, which could then be submitted, accompanied by an original Marriage Certificate. However, I would emphasise that all such requests are examined on an individual and case by case basis before the appropriate decision is taken.