David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

337. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if DNA evidence to prove parentage will be accepted in support of an application for the purposes of issuing an Irish passport to a minor in circumstances where the Irish parent is not named on the child’s foreign birth certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3245/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

All passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act, 2008, as amended (“the Act“). The Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to that person. In order to meet this requirement, each passport applicant must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship by providing acceptable documentary evidence of this entitlement when making a first time passport application.

As set out in the Passport Service documentary requirements for all applications on my Department’s website, entitlement to Irish citizenship should be established via the presentation of relevant official documents. In certain exceptional circumstances, DNA evidence may be accepted for the purpose of establishing a passport applicant’s entitlement to Irish citizenship. Such applications are dealt with on a case by case basis by the Passport Service.

The Passport Service has been in contact with the Deputy’s office directly in relation to this query and has followed up directly with the parent of the applicant to whom the query relates.