Labour calls for withdrawal of suspect passports

THE legislation to abolish the passport for investment scheme should include powers to revoke Irish passports granted to convicted criminals, the Labour Party said yesterday.

The party’s spokesperson on justice, Joe Costello, has called on Minister for Justice Michael McDowell to withdraw passports obtained in the past under the scheme by people who have since become international fugitives or are involved in serious criminal offences abroad.

Mr Costello said the anomaly was highlighted by this week’s announcement by Czech authorities that they will seek the extradition from the Bahamas of Victor Kozeny.