Passport Office deciding 'on an ad hoc basis' whether to renew documents without Public Services Card

The Passport Office has refused to clarify whether or not a decorated firefighter, who has declined to get a Public Services Card, is entitled to a renewal of his travel documents.
Declan Kenny, a fireman based in Leixlip, Co Kildare, applied for a renewal of his passport via the State’s online portal, in February of this year. His previous passport expired in 2012.