Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2026
274. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she intends to review the process for renewing child passports for widowed parents, who are currently required to submit death certificates and sworn affidavits every time their child's passport is renewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40107/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra275. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will review the procedures in the issuing of passports to ensure that widowed parents are not obliged to repeatedly submit death certificates and sworn affidavits every time their child's passport is renewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40176/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 274 and 275 together.
I fully recognise the difficulties the current process may present for bereaved families and the Passport Service seeks to be as sympathetic and supportive as possible in assisting bereaved parents throughout the application process. To this end, the Passport Service has scheduled a meeting with Widows and Bereaved Parents Ireland to discuss their concerns.
In terms of the process in place, where a child's guardian is deceased, the Passport Service requests the original death certificate of the deceased guardian and a Sole Guardian Affidavit from the surviving guardian confirming that they are the only guardian of the child.
When one guardian is deceased, it may not always be the case that the surviving parent is the only guardian of the child. For example, a guardian can, in a will or deed, appoint someone else to be a testamentary guardian after he or she dies. In addition, step-parents or other family members may have acquired guardianship of a child following the death of a parent. In order to protect the rights of children and their guardians, the Passport Service needs to confirm each time that it has the consent of all relevant guardians before it can issue a passport.
