Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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112. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he plans to allow first-time applications online to be available to Irish passport holders located in Thailand. [33788/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Passport Service is pursuing a Digital First strategy and promoting Passport Online as the best way to apply for a passport. Passport Online is a multi-award-winning online platform, and places the Irish Passport Service amongst the most innovative in the world. It is certainly the fastest, easiest and cheapest way to apply for a passport. It is the priority channel for the Passport Service, as it has allowed for the centralisation of passport processing resulting in greater efficiencies for the Service and for customers.

Passport Online is accessible for passport renewals from every country in the world, and for first time applicants in over 70 countries worldwide. Since last month, first time applicants living in Thailand can now apply for their passport online.

The Passport Service continues to rollout the expansion of Passport Online for first time applicants worldwide, and aims to complete the expansion by the end of this year. Most recently, as well as to Thailand, the service has been expanded to first time applicants residing in Bahrain, China, Japan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Over 90% of applicants across the globe now apply online and this number will continue to grow.

Through Passport Online, citizens also have the option of applying for a passport card, which is valid for travel in the EU, EEA, Switzerland and the UK.

I encourage Deputies to advise their constituents of the advantages of using the substantially more efficient online service when applying for their passport.

Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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113. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade how a person (details supplied) can progress their application to renew their passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33823/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service will contact the applicant directly in relation to the application.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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114. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a Northern Ireland electoral ID card is acceptable when applying for a passport when it is accompanied with a birth certificate as well as an expired Irish passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34131/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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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 189 countries. Accordingly, a rigorous analysis process is in place to verify the identity and citizenship status of first time applicants.

All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008, as amended. Under Section 7 of the Act, the Passport Service may require the applicant to produce such documents as are considered necessary for the purposes of issuing a passport.

Government issued photographic identification is required for all first time adult passport applications, in order for the Passport Service to establish the identity of the applicant. This can be a Public Services Card, an original passport from another country or a certified copy of a driver’s licence (certified by a solicitor or notary public). The Passport Service does not accept Electoral Identity Cards issued by the Electoral Office of Northern Ireland as these are not government issued photographic identification.

The Passport Service website outlines the documentary requirements for first time applicants residing in Northern Ireland: www.dfa.ie/passports/documentary-requirements/anadult/firsttimeapplicantbornontheislandofireland/.

The Passport Service understands that a very small number of applicants will not hold any of the specified types of government issued photographic identification. In such cases the Passport Service will provide further information to the applicant as to how their identity may be verified.

With regard to the specific application which the Deputy has shared with the Passport Service, this applicant's previous passport was issued more than 15 years ago. In such cases, the applicant must apply for their next passport as a first time applicant, and provide the required proof of identity. The Passport Service will contact the applicant directly in relation to the documentary requirements for their application.