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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Child passport renewal affidavits

Summary

Deputy Daly argued that requiring widowers, widows and guardians to produce affidavits and death certificates every time a child’s passport is renewed is excessive and upsetting. The Taoiseach said it was a fair point and promised to raise it with the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

I wish to raise a sensitive issue with the Taoiseach. Widowers, widows and guardians must produce affidavits and death certificates every time their child's passport is being renewed. It may be a reasonable position to prevent fraud etc. but I am sure the Taoiseach will agree it is excessive and upsetting when those documents must be produced every single time the passport is being renewed. The Department for Foreign Affairs website states that if one of the two guardians is deceased and no other guardian is appointed, the living guardian is the sole guardian and an original death certificate must be produced every time. Will the Taoiseach be caring and compassionate and do something about that? It is painful and traumatising for the person who is surviving to have to produce those documents on each occasion.

Comment on this

That is a very fair point. I will talk to the Minister for Foreign Affairs about the point the Deputy has raised. There is validity in what the Deputy has said. I would like to hear the counterargument. The Deputy makes a very fair point.

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