More than 1More than 50,000 people participated in the public consultation and expressed their views on which native flora and fauna should be displayed in the new passport.
In a public consultation on the redesign of the Irish passport, the Irish hound, the red squirrel and the red deer were chosen as the top three animals, while the clover, gorse and bluebell were the top choices for plants.
The selection of these flora and fauna not only represents Ireland's natural diversity, but also reflects the Irish people's respect for and protection of their native natural environment.
More than 150,000 people participated in the public consultation and expressed their views on which native flora and fauna should be displayed in the new passport. The consultation** is open to Irish expatriates residing on the island of Ireland and abroad.
Ireland's premier, Michael Martin, said the results would guide the design of the final passport pages. The next edition of the Irish passport is expected to be launched by the end of 2025.
"Our islands are in symbiosis with an abundance of native flora and fauna, and I look forward to seeing them widely represented in our next edition of our passport," he said. ”
These options and more are now shaping the final design concept and will appear on the new version of the passport. ”
He added that so far this year, the Irish Passport Service has received more than 1 million passport applications.
As of 2022, the number of Irish passports issued has reached an all-time high. According to Ireland***, a total of 1.08 million Irish passports were issued in 2022, a figure that surpassed 93 in 201950,000 copies, a new annual record.
It is important to note that anyone with Irish ancestry can apply for an Irish passport, so the number of passport applications mentioned above is not limited to Ireland.
The number of people of Irish descent worldwide could be as high as 70 million to 80 million. Ireland** defines an "Irish national" as all persons of Irish nationality who are domiciled outside the island of Ireland. This includes Irish citizens who have emigrated overseas and their descendants, who are considered Irish citizens under Irish law.
Part of the reason why this number is so large is the massive wave of immigration to Ireland throughout history, especially during the Great Famine of the 19th century. During that time, a large number of Irish people left Ireland due to famine and disease, and migrated to North America, England, Australia, and other regions. These Irish immigrants and their descendants form a large global Irish diaspora population.