Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008 ("the 2008 Act"), 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.

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.

A person may be entitled to Irish citizenship through descent. Eligibility for citizenship through descent (i.e. Foreign Birth Registration) can be ascertained on www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/citizenship. If eligible, a person may apply online for entry on the Foreign Birth Registry.

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.

With regard to the specific case about which the Deputy has enquired, the infant was born abroad to a citizen born abroad. Therefore, the citizen should apply for their infant's entry on the Foreign Birth Registry. Once the infant is entered onto the Foreign Birth Registry, an application for a passport can be made.

The Passport Service has contacted the customer to provide assistance. Should assistance be required with a FBR application, our Customer Service 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.