65. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Passport Office will consider a passport application of a newborn baby who is breastfeeding if an emergency application is submitted should the mother need to travel for a family emergency or medical procedure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56786/26]

The Travel Emergency service is available to citizens in cases of medical emergency or death of a family member abroad. Proof of emergency is required to avail of this service. First time passport applications are essentially applications for Irish citizenship and, as such, require very rigorous evaluation. First time applications for children are generally expedited through the Travel Emergency service only when there is evidence of the need for urgent and time-sensitive medical treatment for the child in question. In the case of a breastfeeding mother who provides evidence of a need to travel due to a death or medical emergency, the Passport Service seek to assist the mother to travel accompanied by their child.

Applicants with specific queries can contact the Passport Service Customer Service Hub for guidance and support at +353 1 671 1633, or via the webchat service: www.ireland.ie/contactpassportservice/.