61. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether a person who has legally changed their name by Deed Poll can have their Irish passport amended to reflect their new name; whether an approved Deed Poll is sufficient evidence of the change of name; the additional documentation, if any, that is required by the passport Service. [62608/26]

68. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will review the policy whereby the Irish Passport Service does not accept deed polls for passport name changes and that applicants seeking a passport in a name that does not appear on their birth certificate must provide evidence of two years' usage of that name; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63064/26]

69. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will review the policy whereby the Irish Passport Service does not accept deed polls for passport name changes and that applicants seeking a passport in a name that does not appear on their birth certificate must provide evidence of two years' usage of that name; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63061/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 61, 68 and 69 together.

All passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act, 2008 as amended (“the Act”), which provides the legal basis for the policies and practices that are applied by the Passport Service in the issuing of passports.

Section 10 of the Act provides that a passport will issue in the name of a citizen as it appears on a person's birth certificate or naturalisation certificate. However, a name change for a passport from that which appears on a person's birth certificate is permitted under the Act in situations such as marriage, civil partnership etc., where civil or legal documents are available to verify this change.

The Passport Service does not accept deed polls alone to change the name on a passport. In cases where name change arises, other than by marriage or civil partnership etc., the Act requires evidence of the use of this new name over a two year period. Evidence of this, for at least two years, through documentation including government-issued photo ID, utility bills, bank statements, and government correspondence in the new name is required, as a deed poll is not adequate evidence of the constant use of a new name.

This policy seeks to protect the integrity and security of the Irish passports against passport and identity fraud while allowing for genuine cases where name changes have occurred. The Irish passport has a strong international reputation due to the strength of security features within the book and the robust processes involved in its issuance. The Irish passport currently ranks fourth in the Henley Global Passport Index as it provides our citizens with visa-free access to 186 countries.

Further details on what is required to facilitate a name change and/or an observation on a passport is available on my Department's website here www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/passports/documentary-requirements/adult/.