Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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27.To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a person born in Ireland who was not officially registered at birth can make an application for Irish citizenship (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.[34196/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008, as amended. The 2008 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.

Entitlement to Irish citizenship is determined by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, under which Irish citizenship may be obtained by birth, by descent, or by naturalisation.

If a person or their parent was born on the island of Ireland before 1 January 2005, they are an Irish citizen and they can apply for an Irish passport without making an application for citizenship.

My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR or naturalisation.

Further information on citizenship is available at my Department's website: www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/citizenship/

In regards to the specific individual about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service cannot offer definitive advice in the absence of an application or any further information. However, the person is advised to make an application, submitting a letter outlining the details of their specific situation as well as any evidence they may have of their entitlement to Irish citizenship. The Passport Service will review the application and will follow up with the applicant directly as appropriate.

Information on what is required for all first time passport applications, including details on documentary requirements, guardianship and consent, are available at my Department’s recently updated website (www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/passports/documentary-requirements).

Our Customer Service Hub agents are available through phone and webchat services from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. They can be contacted at +353 1 671 1633, or via the WebChat service: www.ireland.ie/contactpassportservice/