Irish citizens will lose the right to enter the US without obtaining a visa from October 2004 unless a microchip storing biometric data such as fingerprints or iris scans is embedded in new passports.
Legislation signed into law by President Bush in May, will require all 28 states in the US government's visa-waiver programme to provide biometric data on all newly issued travel documents.
The new law, which is aimed at tightening up security following the terrorist attacks on September 11th, has prompted the Department of Foreign Affairs to reconsider biometrics, and the consequences of the new US legislation.
Documents obtained by The Irish Times show the Department considered the need for biometric identifiers on passports as early as August 2001. Tender documents outlining the technology requirements for a new automated passport system issued by the Department include specific requirements to enable it to be compatible with the introduction of biometrics to passports.
Biometric technologies attempt to 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 sources believe the withdrawal of visa exemption from Irish citizens could seriously damage trade and tourism between the US and the Republic. However, some officials believe the US will not be able to meet its own deadline set in the legislation.
A spokesman for the Department of Foreign affairs confirmed yesterday it would consider embedding this type of biometric technology in the medium to long term. However he said no decision had been taken by the Government and biometrics would not be introduced in the short-term.
People holding Irish passports issued before October 2004 will not be affected by the law until their current passports expire.
Under the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Reform Act, US visas will also feature biometric data that can be read by scanners at all ports of entry into the US. The move would be opposed by many civil liberties groups as an infringement on privacy.
Mr Liam Herrick, acting director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, said he would be concerned. "The worry is that these [biometric technologies] could be used to do background checks on travellers and that safeguards for people's privacy would not be prepared," he said.
The Government recently set up an interdepartmental committee to investigate the potential uses for biometric technology for the supply of other services. It has appointed the firm PA Consulting to study for which services biometric identification would be most appropriate.