Committee Reports > List of Committees > Dáil > 1956 > Committee of Public Accounts > Report - Appropriation Accounts 1953 - 1954

APPENDIX VI.

DOCUMENTS OF IDENTITY

Cléireach,

An Coiste um Chuntais Phoiblí.

I attach, as undertaken by me to the Public Accounts Committee on 13th ultimo, a Note on Documents of Identity—Vote for the Office of the Minister for Justice (No. 29).

(Signed) THOMAS J. COYNE,

Secretary,

Department of Justice.

18 Samhain, 1955.

Documents of Identity are, in fact, Travel Documents, under which title it is intended that they will be known in the future.

A Travel Document is, under International Agreements, issued to an alien resident in the State who, for one reason or another, is unable to obtain a national passport. A Travel Document is issued for the sole purpose of providing the holder with identity papers in lieu of a national passport to enable the holder to travel. It is without prejudice to and in no way affects the national status of the holder and if the holder obtains a national passport it ceases to be valid.

Each country fixes the fee chargeable for a Travel Document, but under the International Agreements the fee is not to exceed the fee for a national passport. By Department of Finance minute (S. 73/4/24) of 29th June, 1946, the fee charged by this State for a Travel Document is 12/6. A Travel Document is valid for one year from date of issue and may be renewed at a fee of 12/6 per year.

A Travel Document issued to a White Russian or Armenian refugee requires a “Nansen” stamp for which an additional fee (equivalent to the value of 5 gold francs) is charged. This fee, which at present amounts to 11/11, while collected by the Department is paid to the High Commissioner for Refugees.