Passport security 'chips' given go ahead

The Government has agreed to embed computer chips containing biometric data into Irish passports as part of a European initiative…

The Government has agreed to embed computer chips containing biometric data into Irish passports as part of a European initiative to increase security.

A final decision on the type of biometric that will be embedded in all newly issued passports has not been taken. But the Department of Foreign Affairs said yesterday European governments were likely to choose facial imaging as a common standard.

The decision to embed biometric identifiers in all EU passports was formalised at an European Council meeting in Greece at the weekend, which was attended by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen.

At the Council meeting, European governments also agreed to allocate €140 million funding to study biometrics and some immigration issues. The Council has also proposed embedding similar computer chips into visas given to non-EU citizens, making it easier for governments to track immigrants within Europe.

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A Foreign Affairs spokesman said the Government has decided to approve the Council plan in the interests of building greater security into Irish passports. A new system capable of embedding the chips into passports is being built, but no timeframe has yet been agreed.

Biometric technologies harness people's biological characteristics and sort, match and identify these for a range of applications mainly for security. The most popular biometrics currently used by police forces and government agencies in Britain and the US are fingerprints, iris scans and face imaging.

Government interest in biometric technologies has dramatically increased since the terrorist attacks on September 11th.

The US Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act 2002 will force visitors to the US, who travel from visa waiver states, to have biometrics embedded in passports from October 2004.

However, the new security measures are being opposed by some international civil liberties groups. Last night the Irish Council for Civil Liberties also expressed concerns that the measures were agreed without public consultation and could infringe on individual's privacy.