269. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will review passport renewal requirements for widowed parents who must repeatedly submit bereavement documentation for their children's passports; if she will introduce a once-off verification system for such cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36989/26]

274. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if her Department will examine the introduction of a system whereby bereavement documents need only be submitted once (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37115/26]

275. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will introduce a once off verification system for passport applications in the case of widowed parents so bereavement documents for their spouses only need to be submitted once unless family circumstances change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37123/26]

277. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she is aware of concerns raised by an organisation (details supplied) regarding the current child passport renewal process, which requires widowed parents to repeatedly submit death certificates and sworn affidavits each time a child’s passport is renewed; if she will consider introducing a once-off verification system within the passport service in order that bereavement documentation only needs to be submitted once unless family circumstances change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37147/26]

278. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she is aware that widowed parents are required to repeatedly submit death certificates and sworn affidavits when renewing children’s passports; if she will review this requirement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37188/26]

279. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether consideration is being given to introducing a once-off verification process for bereaved parents renewing children’s passports, whereby bereavement documentation will only need to be submitted once unless family circumstances change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37189/26]

281. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if her attention has been drawn to a campaign (details supplied); if this can be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37235/26]

282. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will consider facilitating a meeting with a group (details supplied) to discuss their concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37236/26]

283. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her views on the merits of amending the requirements for child passport renewals (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37237/26]

284. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the plans to implement a change to the application process for widowed parents to renew their child's passport so that a once off verification process of death would protect safeguards while showing basic compassion to bereaved families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37239/26]

291. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in relation to a passport application and renewal process for children’s passports, if changes (details supplied) will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37593/26]

294. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will reform the passport application system for bereaved and widowed parents to introduce a one-time verification system for the renewal of children's passports given the distress caused by the present arrangement whereby the widowed parent must submit their deceased partner or co-parent's death certificate and a sworn affidavit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37685/26]

295. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether she is aware of concerns raised by widowed parents regarding the requirement to repeatedly submit death certificates, affidavits and related bereavement documentation when renewing passports for their children; whether consideration will be given to introducing a once off verification system whereby such documentation would only need to be provided once unless family circumstances change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37692/26]

296. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will issue instructions to the passport office, when it comes to renewal passport applications for under 18s, to end the practice of the widow/bereaved partner/other parent having to re-submit death certificates and sworn affidavits during every passport renewal, and instead to have a one-off verification system in order that documents associated with a bereavement do not have to be re-submitted continually unless family circumstances change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37702/26]

298. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason widowed parents are required to repeatedly submit death certificates and sworn affidavits each time their child's passport is renewed; the justification for this practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37806/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 269, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 281, 282, 283, 284, 291, 294, 295, 296 and 298 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.