|
|
Ahern recommends new passports
12.10.10
by Linda McGrory
MINISTER for Justice Dermot Ahern has urged holders
of older, non-biometric Irish passports, to buy new
ones if they fear their personal details could be
compromised when travelling abroad.
Mr Ahern was responding following confirmation that
gardai are investigating the possible fraudulent use
of at least six Irish passports by a Russian spy
ring.
Among the alleged victims were Carndonagh couple,
Eunan and Maureen Doherty.
The minister said Irish passports were considered
good currency abroad because the Irish were held in
"high respect as a nation" and were "ideal
candidates for travel".
"Obviously, over time, the new (Irish) passports
will replace the old passports but I would say to
anyone, if they have any difficulty in relation to
fears, what they should do is purchase a new
passport," said Mr Ahern.
The minister was speaking at the official opening of
a plush new €7.5 million garda headquarters in
Buncrana, Co Donegal. |
 |
Garda
Commissioner, Fachtna Murphy, who also attended the
event, confirmed that gardai were currently
investigating the alleged fraudulent use of six
Irish passports.
"I wouldn't want to blow this out of all proportion.
The number we are investigating in the most recent
case is six. But any misuse of Irish passports is an
issue for us and
Government and we are taking it very seriously,"
said Mr Murphy.
He said gardai were working closely with the
Department of Justice and Department of Foreign
Affairs as well as US police as part of the
investigation.
"Our passports are very important |
to us, and to any
country, and we want to ensure that when things come
to our notice, we will investigate.
"We are working very closely with our American
counterparts, law enforcement in America, on the
alleged use of up to six Irish passports," said Mr
Murphy.
Meanwhile, Mr Ahern said a "substantial" amount of
taxpayers' money had been spent in improving the
security of Irish passports in 2005 while he was
Minister for Foreign Affairs.
He said it was his understanding that the current
garda investigation centred mainly on older Irish
passports.
"Most or all of the passports, I understand, that we
are talking about now, relate to the passports under
the old regime. We have now a biometric passport
which is the best in the world and was regarded by
the Americans, when they saw it, as being the one
that everyone else should attain, so I don't think
the fraud is in relation to the new passports,"
added Mr Ahern. He said the Government was taking
the alleged misuse of Irish citizens' passports
abroad "very seriously". |
|
