Passport Services
Dail Éireann — 2026-05-26
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Kieran O'Donnell (FG), Limerick City

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy McEntee.
A passport is an internationally recognised travel document which attests to the identity and nationality of the bearer. The passport service follows recommendations from the ICAO, which the Deputy referenced, in relation to data that is held on a passport. The ICAO is an international body that develops policies and standards for aviation safety and security. Internationally, the Irish passport has a strong reputation. The passport service takes seriously its responsibility to protect the integrity of the Irish passport and the issuing process. Our passport ranks fourth on the Henley global passport index as it provides citizens visa-free access to 185 countries. All passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act 2008, as amended. The Act provides a legal basis for the various policies and procedures that are applied by the passport service in the issuing of passports. Section 10 provides that a passport will issue the name of a citizen as it appears on their birth certificate or naturalisation certificate.
The function of the data held on a passport is to confirm the passport holder's identity and nationality. The passport service does not include guardians' names on children's passports, nor is this required by the provisions of the Act. A passport for a minor under the age of 18 is valid for five years. It is important to note that it is possible that the guardianship circumstances of a child can change. The child may also become an adult during the validity period of their passport. A child travelling abroad must have their own passport and cannot be included on their guardian's passport. The practice of allowing children to be included on a guardian's passport is being phased out internationally. This is intended to make international travel more secure for children. The previous practice of including a child on a guardian's passport meant that the child was not identified via photograph prior to travel.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade understands that situations arise where a guardian is travelling with their child who does not share their surname, and the guardian may be requested to produce further documents confirming the guardianship link. Border control authorities may also request extra documentation when children travel either unaccompanied or with an accompanying person who is not their guardian. The purpose of border control authorities requesting further information is to safeguard the rights of children and their guardians. The Department's website contains information for adults travelling with children and outlines additional documentation they may be required to carry, depending on the country to which they are travelling. The passport service does not have any plans to expand the purpose of a passport to indicate a guardianship relationship between a child and their guardians but continues to consider ways in which to enhance their essential citizen service. That is the update from the Minister and the Department. I wait for the Deputy's further contribution, and I will respond accordingly.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-05-26/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-14T01:01:04+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-26