Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 June 2026
211. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to urgently examine a significant delay with a child's first-time Irish passport application (details supplied); if this application will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46545/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act, 2008, as amended (“the 2008 Act”). Section 7(1)(a) of that Act provides that a person must be an Irish citizen in order for a passport to be issued. Accordingly, every applicant for a passport must submit evidence that they are an Irish citizen and, as such, are entitled to a passport. Section 12(1)(a) of the 2008 Act states that the Minister shall refuse to issue a passport to a person if the Minister is not satisfied that the person is an Irish citizen.
Entitlement to Irish citizenship is determined by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 ("the 1956 Act"), as amended, under which Irish citizenship may be obtained by birth, by descent, or by naturalisation. The 1956 Act is under the remit of the Department of Justice, Home Affairs, and Migration.
When processing a first time passport application, the Passport Service must validate the identity of the applicant and confirm their entitlement to Irish citizenship. It is the responsibility of the Passport Service to protect the integrity of the Irish passport process. As such, a rigorous process is in place to validate the identity of applicants and to confirm their citizenship status.
Passport applications that involve the calculation of reckonable residence can be complex. The Passport Service has a dedicated team of highly skilled and experienced entitlement officers who review these applications and engage directly with the applicant to ensure that all required supporting documentation is submitted.
With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service is actively reviewing the application and will provide the applicant with an update once available.
