'Passport for Sale' scheme abolished

The committee set up to review the 'Passports for Sale' scheme has recommended the scheme should not be re-introduced

The committee set up to review the 'Passports for Sale' scheme has recommended the scheme should not be re-introduced. Set up in 1989 and lasting until 1998 the scheme came under intense scrutiny in the late nineties.

The committee said the reintroduction of the scheme would not be necessary to the present state of the economy.

However, it could be re-introduced at a later date but under strict conditions and only if the economy seriously deteriorated.

The committee said the scheme did benefit the Irish economy at the time - through investment by donors who received Irish passports in exchange for their investments.

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Serious faults with the scheme have been identified however, and the committee found it was not always operated in a fitful manner.

The Minister for Justice has said he would back the committee’s findings.