Biometric passports to be introduced by year end

Biometric passports will be introduced before the end of the year.

The Department of Foreign Affairs expects to begin issuing the new travel documents before the October deadline set by the US authorities.

The contract for the biometric passports has been awarded to Bearing Point, which is based in Dublin.

The passports will contain a digitised image of the holder's face as well as his or her personal details, but will not include fingerprints.

The total cost of the project is estimated at €8.8m.