Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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282. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason the Passport Service does not recognise the Irish language when on photographic ID, required for passport application, where the applicant applies with their name in English, as per their birth certificate; the reason the passport office does not recognise our first language as being the same name in English, as it is in Irish; if he will examine this and seek a change within the passport service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29403/26]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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All passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act, 2008 (“the Act”). The Act provides a legal basis for the various policies and practices that are applied by the Passport Service in the issuing of passports.

Section 10 of the Act provides that a passport will issue in the name of a citizen as it appears on their birth certificate or naturalisation certificate. However, a name change for a passport from that which appears on a person’s birth certificate is permitted under the Act in situations such as marriage, civil partnership etc. where civil, or legal documents are available to verify this change.

In cases where name change arises, other than by marriage or civil partnership etc., the Act requires evidence of the use of this new name over a two year period.

If a person requests issuance of a passport in the Irish version of their name, Passport Service policy allows for some flexibility and may facilitate the request if the applicant provides proof of a minimum period of six months usage of the Irish version of their name. In such cases, the Passport Service will include an observation on the passport recording the person’s birth certificate or previous name. This observation must remain on the passport until the condition of two years proof of usage can be satisfied. After the required two years and if the person wishes to do so, they may reapply for a passport, submitting the required two years proof of usage of their name in Irish, and a new passport may issue without the observation.

In order to protect the integrity and security of the Irish passport against passport and identity fraud, while allowing for genuine cases where name changes have occurred, it is important that a passport is issued in the name used by the applicant. The Irish passport has a strong international reputation due to the strength of security features within the book and the robust processes involved in its issuance. The Irish passport currently ranks fourth in the Henley Global Passport Index as it provides our citizens with visa-free access to 191 countries.