Govt planning tougher penalties for passport offences

The Government is reportedly planning to introduce tougher penalties for passport fraud under new regulations due to take effect later this year.

Reports this morning said the regulations would make it a serious criminal offence to use a false Irish passport while abroad, while attempting to alter a passport or making a false application would also attract large fines and lengthy jail terms.

The measures are reportedly contained in a bill due to be put forward by Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern in two weeks' time.

This morning's reports said the Government was denying that the move had any link to the recent controversy surrounding journalist and anti-corruption campaigner Frank Connolly.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell was widely criticised when he used his Dáil privilege to accuse Mr Connolly of travelling to Colombia on a false passport as part of an IRA plot to train local rebels in the use of explosives.