AN Irish passport office will not be set up in Belfast after the Republic's minister for foreign affairs dismissed the suggestion.
The UK's decision to leave the European Union has led to a sharp increase in enquiries about Irish passports from people living in the north and Britain.
However, minister Charlie Flanagan said there had been "some exaggeration of demand" and reminded UK passport holders that they will continue to have the same rights as other EU citizens until a formal exit is negotiated between the UK and EU. Such an exit is not expected to be completed for at least two years.
He said most people in Ireland apply for passports through their post offices, adding there was no need to establish a passport office in Belfast.
"There are passport offices in Dublin and Cork which can deal with emergency applications and, given the size of the island, people in Northern Ireland are not unduly disadvantaged," he said.
He said the referendum result had not changed the entitlement of people born in Ireland, or claiming citizenship through parents or grandparents born on the island, to an Irish passport.
He added: "An unnecessary surge in applications for Irish passports will place significant pressure on the system and on turnaround times and is likely to impact those with a genuine need for passports to facilitate imminent travel plans".
