Review for passport system

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern has ordered a review of an element of the passport system following a controversy involving Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

Last month, it emerged that the Taoiseach had helped to obtain a passport for American businessman Norman Turner in 1994, one of the key figures behind a controversial casino proposal in the 1990s, just months after Mr Turner had made a $10,000 donation to Fianna Fáil.

When the story emerged, the Government insisted the Taoiseach had done nothing wrong, saying the passport had been obtained under an express system available to all TDs which allows for the passport to be issued within five working days.

The Government pointed out that more than 6,200 passports were processed in this way in 2007, a figure subsequently questioned by Fine Gael TD Phil Hogan.

In response, Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern said yesterday he had ordered a complete review of the service, but defended its introduction.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs has always sought to be of assistance to members of the Oireachtas, including in relation to passport applications, and I believe this is widely appreciated,” he said.

“However, in the light of the recent focus on it, I have asked the secretary general of the department to undertake a review of all aspects of the facility, including whether it should be continued. I would of course welcome the input of members into this review.”