Dáil Éireann - Volume 639 - 16 October, 2007

Written Answers. - Passport Applications.

Deputy Brendan Howlin Deputy Brendan Howlin

Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason the Irish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur took five weeks to deliver a passport to the Phuket consulate office in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23346/07]

Deputy Dermot Ahern Deputy Dermot Ahern

  Deputy Dermot Ahern: The initial application in this case was lodged at the Honorary Consulate in Phuket and received by the Irish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur on 26 March 2007. Checking of the application by Embassy staff highlighted a number of difficulties with the application. In particular, the name of the child entered on the form differed from that on his birth certificate and Thai passport, there were discrepancies in the dates concerning witnessing of parental consent and the photograph provided did not meet the requirements specified on the form. The applicant’s mother was informed through the Honorary Consulate of these difficulties and told she needed to submit a new application.

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A new application was submitted through the Embassy in Kuala Lumpur to the Passport Office on 15 May and this was processed the same day. The passport was sent by diplomatic bag to the Embassy on 21 May where it was received on 23 May and sent to Phuket the same day. The passport was collected in Phuket on 25 May. The speed with which the passport was issued once the properly completed application was received highlights the quality of the passport service pro[1287] vided by the Department. Honorary Consuls, such as the official in Phuket, are not full-time officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs but are honorary appointees who undertake, in addition to their normal work, to provide consular services to Irish citizens where there is no Irish Embassy. This is an invaluable service for our citizens who require assistance abroad in popular tourist destinations.

Dáil Éireann 639 Written Answers. Passport Applications.

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