FG questions lessons learned about passports

IRELAND SEEMS to have learned no lessons from the “Dubai affair” in relation to the fraudulent use of Irish passports, Fine Gael has claimed.

The party’s foreign affairs spokesman Sean Barrett sought a special notice or emergency Dáil debate following revelations that six Irish passports may have been illegally used by members of a Russian espionage ring. The spy ring was uncovered in the US during the summer.

“I think this is a matter of grave urgency in view of the fact that the integrity of Irish passports is being brought into disrepute as a result of this ongoing failure on our part to guarantee security of a passport,” Mr Barrett said.

His remarks followed Dáil foreign affairs questions when the passports controversy was on the order paper but was not reached before question time ended.

Last week gardaí informed a female volunteer with the Irish charity To Russia with Love which workers with orphans that her passport had been compromised.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin on Monday described as “disturbing” allegations that data from a number of Irish passports had been cloned.

In the Dáil Mr Barrett said “the UK has dealt with this matter by other arrangements and we seem to have learned no lessons from the Dubai affair”.

He was referring to the assassination in January of a senior Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai. Some eight Irish and 12 British passports were used in the operation.

Later Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny asked if the Minister would come into the House to make a statement and answer questions about the issue “which is of such importance in regards to the integrity of Irish passports”. Taoiseach Brian Cowen said the Minister had dealt with the issue, and it was a matter for the House to decide the issue at question time.