Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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64. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if an application for a passport can be processed as quickly as possible in the case of a person (details supplied); if every effort can be made to issue their passport, given the emotional toll of their circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37546/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Passport Service has issued over 855,000 passports to date this year. All passport applications are subject to the requirements of the Passports Act 2008, as amended. First-time applications are the most complex applications due to the necessary checks involved to verify the identity and citizenship status of the applicant. The turnaround time to complete first-time online applications is 20 working days.

The Passport Service takes its responsibility to protect the integrity of the Irish passport very seriously. The Irish passport has a strong international reputation due to the strength of the security features within the passport book and the robust processes involved in its issuance. The Irish passport was recently ranked third in the Henley Global Passport Index, as it provides our citizens with visa-free access to 193 countries. Accordingly, there is a rigorous checking process in place for first time applications.

The Travel Emergency service is available to citizens in cases of medical emergency or death of a family member abroad. First time passport applications are essentially applications for Irish citizenship and, as such, require very rigorous evaluation. It is important to note that the Passport Service will only expedite a passport where entitlement to Irish citizenship has been proven and all other required supporting documents have been received by the Passport Service.

With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service received the documents for this first time application on 16/08/2024. Further supporting documents for this application was requested by the Passport Service on 11/09/2024 and received by the Passport Service on 12/09/2024. It is important to note that turnaround times for applications that require supporting documents begin from the date the Passport Service receives the supporting documents are received. Travel Emergency will reach out to the applicant again to ask for further evidence of the emergency to check if the applicant meets requirements for expediating. If so, Travel Emergency will assist with expediting his application.