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THERE HAVE BEEN over 300 Irish passports revoked due to fraud since 2016, new figures have revealed.
The number of frauds detected have risen each year for the past three years, with 130 cases identified last year.
The cases of fraud are quite small when compared to over 800,000 passports issued each year but the Department of Foreign Affairs said that its detection of cases of fraud has improved significantly in recent years due to investment in technology.
In a parliamentary question, Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy asked for the number of cases where passports had been revoked or voided due to being obtained by fraud or deception in the past 10 years.
Minister Simon Coveney said in reply that there are a lack of records before 2016, but detailed the number of passports voided in recent years.
In 2016, there were 76 passports revoked. In 2017, that number was 82 and rose to 130 in 2018.
Figures for this year up to 30 June show that 46 passports were voided.
In a statement to TheJournal.ie, a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs outlined how the Passport Service has tackled fraud in recent years.
“Since 2017 substantial resources have been invested in the Integrity Section of the Passport Service,” the spokesperson said. “This section has also had a significant increase in staff numbers and new and improved systems have been put in place.
A large investment in technology and structures has helped to improve our detection rates and our recording of instances of fraud. These resources coupled with new procedures and protocols implemented by the Passport Service have significantly prevented fraud applications from circumventing our systems thereby closing down avenues of access previously used by the fraudulent applicant.
The spokesperson said that for “policy and security reasons” it would be inappropriate to comment on “specific investigative tradecraft matters”.
However, “in broader terms”, the department said that “considerable time and resources” have gone into the development of the passport book and card that is recognised internationally.
So far this year – to 30 June – 567,141 applications for an Irish passport have been received. Just under 50,000 of them have come from Northern Ireland with another 36,274 applicants from Great Britain.
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How many of these were Israeli?
@Ananya Sharma: I was asking that myself
@Ananya Sharma: Russia forged 6 irish passports. Israel forged 3 irish passports. So who knows?
@Clifford Brennan: How many did the Russians kill with there ones ?
@Tony Moore: Who was killed by a passport?
@Clifford Brennan: A Palestinian leader by the Israelis carrying Irish Passports.
@Tony Moore: Tell me what you know about this “Palestinian leader”, Tony?
@Clifford Brennan:
I hope this helps.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.independent.ie/irish-news/hit-squad-used-fake-irish-passports-26632716.html
@Tony Moore: No not at all. I asked what you knew about him, not could you copy and paste. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and suggest you look into his cofounding of the Al Qassam brigade, their suicide bombing attacks, his central role in coordinating smuggling of rockets, missiles and weapons for Hamas. The article briefly mentions his role in the kidnapping and murder of 2 soldiers. Quite a “leader” as you so gently stated.
@Clifford Brennan: Well then its ok , thought we had a problem for a second
@Tony Moore: No, no problem. Happy to help clear up your unwitting lack of info on the guy who reaped what he sowed.
@Tony Moore: “Hamas has pointed the finger at Israel, blaming Mossad – the country’s secret service – for carrying out the hit.
Lt Gen Tamim did not go as far as directly blaming Israel, but said it was possible that “leaders of certain countries gave orders to their intelligence agents to kill” the Hamas man.” No evidence that it was Israel
@Clifford Brennan: Fair enough, but remember one thing. Mossad could have used fake passports with fake identities of any nationality. They didn’t. They used copies of passports issued to Irish citizens. Drop the whataboutery and tell us whether or not you condone that.
@Clifford Brennan: Just to enlighten you if that’s possible . I served in South Lebanon. And i seen the torture your south Lebanese SLA , inflicted on ordinarily Lebanese civilians. Including an old couple who had their throats cut. So lectures from you is like advice from a supporter of the ISIS on human rights.
@Josh Gilman: your sadly and badly informed.
@Tommy Roche: Im conflicted to be honest. On one hand our passports should be left alone, on the other you’ve a guy who founded an organisation that sent suicide bombers onto buses, into cafes, nightclubs, supermarkets etc killing hundreds and maiming thousands of civilians. When he got promoted to smuggling rockets, missiles etc for Hamas, he organised it with Iran from Syria. He left the safety of Syria and got clipped. No real loss. Understandably he’s a big target.
@Josh Gilman: The point is that we just don’t know how many “Irish Passports” are being used in this type of skulduggery by the Israelis who seem to think Irish Passport holders are fair game when it comes to copying passports from this country. They don’t just make a “copy” of a blank passport they use a “live” copy from some unsuspecting Irish Citizen who’s presence in other countries is then recorded. This is the danger ..
@Clifford Brennan: knob head
300 out of how many ….
Investment in an area of national security has only happened in the last 3 yrs or so?!!! This country continues to be a banana republic run by unaccountable eejits!! Absolutely shocking.
Typical how to deal with the problem, when the horse has bolted. This security glitch was known for some time.
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