Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 July 2026
52. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reasons there have been significant issues with passport card printing recently; if the printing of passport books has been affected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49806/26]
View answerThe passport card was launched in October 2015 and offers Irish citizens the convenience of travel, with a credit card sized travel document, to all EU Member States, the members of the EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway), Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Due to the upgrade of systems relating to the launch of the new and improved passport book and card last Friday, the issuance of passport cards was limited for a short time.
All customers who apply for a passport card must have a valid passport book in order to make the application. Therefore customers awaiting the issuance of a new passport card could travel on their passport book.
Passport books were unaffected by this pause and continued to be printed throughout this period, ensuring disruption to customers was minimal.
I am please to say that following last Friday’s successful launch of the new passport book and card, the printing of passport cards has now resumed and all passport card customers will receive their new card, with its enhanced security features, shortly.
I would ask the Deputy to encourage their constituents to apply for their passports through Passport Online. The Passport Online service offers citizens the ability to apply online for their passport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This award-winning service has resulted in greater efficiencies for our citizens and is available to 100% of all applicants globally. The percentage of applicants using Passport Online has increased from 93% in 2025 to 97% to date in 2026.
In particular, those who are travelling this year, especially families with young children who require their first passport, should apply online and in plenty of time. The Passport Service advises citizens to ensure their passports are valid before booking holidays and travel.
