Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

23. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Irish embassy in the United Kingdom offers the facility for a landlord of an Irish property to sign a statutory declaration under supervision at the Embassy; if not, if he is aware that this is a service that the Residential Tenancies Board advises is available in their guidance notes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39759/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Diplomatic and Consular Officers (Provision or Services) Act, 1993, empowers specific staff, serving abroad, to perform any notarial act that a Notary Public can perform in the State. This includes witnessing statutory declarations.

In circumstances where the services of a solicitor, notary public or those authorised to take statutory declarations are available in the country of accreditation, an Embassy or Consulate will direct citizens to those services in the first instance.

Section 4.5 of the RTB Guidance Note on “Statutory declarations made outside of Ireland” references that: “A person who wishes to sign the statutory declaration at an Irish Embassy or Consulate, should contact the Embassy/Consulate in advance to confirm the availability of the service, process, etc. Fees will apply.”

Officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs are in ongoing communication with the RTB to ensure the guidance notes remain accurate and updated, where necessary.