Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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226. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the current position in regard to the availability of an Irish passport in the case of a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10784/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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All passport applications are subject to the Passports Act 2008, as amended (the 2008 Act). The Act requires that a person must be an Irish citizen in order for the Minister to issue a passport to that person. Accordingly, every applicant for a passport must submit a complete application form with supporting documents positively confirming to the satisfaction of the Minister, amongst other things, that the person is an Irish citizen and as such is entitled to a passport.

The submitted applications do not demonstrate the children’s entitlement to Irish citizenship. The Passport Service contacted the parent on 29 November 2022, 28 December 2022 and 1 February 2023 to advise them that the applications were incomplete and that further supporting documentation is required to finalise the applications.   

It should be noted that on the basis of previous unsuccessful applications for the children, the Passport Service also advised in these communications that if the parent is unable to provide the required supporting documentation, consideration could be given to pursuing, on behalf of the children, applications for Irish citizenship through Naturalisation with the Department of Justice and Equality. In the event that such applications were successful, certificates of naturalisation would be issued to them by the Minister for Justice and Equality. These certificates would be proof of Irish citizenship that would be acceptable to the Passport Service in the context of future passport applications.