Andrew Doyle TD for Wicklow/Carlow East has welcomed the announcement of the new Irish Passport Card, acceptable for travel within the European Union and the European Economic Area and has commended the two Wicklow companies who have been instrumental in the innovative design of this new card.
Speaking on the announcement Deputy Doyle commented “The introduction of the new Passport Card for travel would be the first to be “universally acceptable” for air travel within the EU and EEA. Applications for the new card will be accepted online or through a new smartphone app, which allows applicants to use photographs of themselves which they have taken on their own phones.
“The new Passport Card is a very innovative move by the Passport Office, the first of its kind in the world. Wicklow business DLRS based in Bray were the lead company in the design and production of these cards. They have partnered with HID Global Ireland Teoranta based in Baile na hAbhann, Galway and Absolute Graphics based in Bray.
“The security features of the card have utilised advice from security experts including An Garda Síochána, including embedded hologram photo on a strip on the reverse of the card. This is the first occasion on which this security feature will be used on travel document. The Smartphone App will make it very easy to apply for the card – the app even includes a feature allowing a photograph to be taken that will meet international standards for passports, providing first class standards for all our citizens.
“This is a credit card-sized passport that can fit easily in your wallet. The new card will be available from mid-July 2015 to all Irish citizens over 18 years and who hold a valid Irish Passport. It will have a maximum validity of 5 years (or the remaining validity of an individual’s passport book) and it will cost €35.
“This innovative approach by Ireland’s Passport Service to facilitate travellers and to act as a more convenient method of identification is certainly to be welcomed and the two companies in Bray are to be highly complemented on their involvement in the design of this new card.”