Aviva Stadium and Cliffs of Moher to feature in Irish passport redesign

Images of newly-built architectural landmarks in Dublin such as the Aviva Stadium and the Samuel Beckett Bridge will be used in a redesign of the Irish passport book.

The new passport, to be introduced next week by Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore, will also feature images of ancient icons such as the Rock of Cashel and the Cliffs of Moher.

The redesigned passport, incorporating new security features, will soon replace the existing passport, which has been in circulation since 2004.

The new book will be produced at a lower cost than the passports now in use, with annual savings of some €4 million projected. However, there will be no reduction in annual passport fees.

The standard fee for a ten-year adult passport book is €80 and the fee for a child’s passport is €26.50. A Department of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman said the cost of childrens’ passports were cross-subsidised by income from adults’ passports.