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OVER 900,000 IRISH passports were issued in 2019, which represents a new record and a 7% increase on 2018.
During peak periods, more than 5,800 applications were submitted from around the world in a single day, and total monthly applications exceeded 100,000 in January, March, April and May in 2019.
March was the month where the highest number of applications for Irish passports were received; 112,920 were submitted in that time.
There were “a significant number of applicants” from Northern Ireland and Great Britain; over 94,000 first-time applications were received from people born in Northern Ireland or Great Britain, representing just over 10% of the total.
Last year, this figure was 22%.
The oldest online applicant was 101 and the youngest was just five days old.
The most popular baby girls names were Grace, Emily and Anna; while Jack, James and Noah topped the baby boys’ list. The most common surname for applications for Irish passports worldwide was Murphy.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Coveney said that 2019 was “another bumper year for the passport service”.
Coveney said that the Irish passport is a “valuable document and we continue to strengthen all processes to prevent fraud and maintain its integrity and security”.
As we approach 2020, I would remind all prospective travellers check the validity of their passport before booking a trip overseas. If you need to renew your passport, I encourage you to do so online and in the off-peak period, to ensure the shortest possible renewal time.
The Passport Online service expanded to include first-time applicants in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Great Britain and Europe.
The cost of renewing a passport online is cheaper than alternative methods, with adults costing €75, and children €20.
Useful information and guidance on the range of channels through which passport applications can be made is available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s website.
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Build more prisons and introduce a 3 strike system , 3rd strike = mandatory life sentences.
@John Judd: Agree. It worked extremely well in New York
@John Judd: For violent crimes, 100%
@John Judd: no. It might seem like we’re in a dark place right now, but we have to stick with this approach. 5—10 more years of not punishing/deterring crime in any meaningful way is bound to make this city safer. Near guaranteed.
@John Judd: 3 strike systems/minimum sentencing has proven to turn would be assaults/robberies into murder. If the person is guaranteed to be put away for a specific amount of time regardless of the severity of the crime, they’re more likely to try and get rid of the witness.
@Ellen Clare: Has this been proven? I doubt it. They have no respect for life anyway. Murder rates were always high in New York, even before the three strike rule.
I would happily pay more taxes to pay for more prisons.
@Stephenkee: https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/468112?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
Peer reviewed study there on how 3 strike laws increase homicide, and don’t reduce level of crime.
We need more Padraig Nallys.
Can you imagine prisoners were paid 3 million in ‘ pocket money’ last year.something needs to change.
@John: and one in five of them still collect welfare.
Robbing pensioners at knifepoint eh? So brave. We need to do away with suspended sentences and have these lowlifes suspended from the Spire on O Connell Street.
Really need to fix correctional system. Hard labour for these.
Sure our legal system protects criminals more than law abiding citizens.
@Stephenkee: it’s deliberate, think about it, the lawyers and judges are being given plenty of business by these mother*****kers getting their ‘free legal aid’ paid for by their victims’ tax money. They’ll get light sentences and most likely reoffend. Meanwhile the lawyers and judges are living in nice leafy, safe areas.
@Stephenkee: it seems the leftwing snowflakes care more about the criminals than law abiding citizens
Can we pay more income tax and build Thornton Hall? Maybe five or six hundred cells would be a help.
@KerryBlueMike: build it at the curragh, massive amount of space there and right on the motorway.also build a court house and save huge amounts of money transporting prisoners up and down to court in the Centre of Dublin.
Please put me in charge of it,please!
@KerryBlueMike: how about a 5 or 6 hundred Sq metre deep hole
We really need to fix the correctional system. I vote hard labour for these sc** bags.
Cream crackers.
where was the caretaker when all of this was happening,are there no alarms in the appartements
@Tony Niall: article said houses no mention of apartments.
Liberal nonsense has failed to deal with this type of despicable behaviour, time to take gloves off
Unfortunately for everyone else these scrotes take exceptional pride in being the lowest of the low!
have your say