If you received an Irish passport between December 23 and January 6, you may need to return it due to a software error.

“There’s been a software error that has left passports that were issued over the holiday period, technically non-compliant,” said Owen Currie, editor of Air and Travel magazine.

Currie explained the issue on The Anton Savage Show: 

 “They updated the software and they started issuing passports that didn't have the key letters, IRL, on them.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs is recalling the affected passports, but Currie reassured travelers: 

“There's not going to be a waiting list to get them. You'll get your new passport immediately. But it is a bit of an embarrassment” adding that this was a “Christmas present” for the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Helen McEntee.

While the problem affected e-passport scanners worldwide, Currie said no one has been turned away at borders.

“They have alerted all the countries in the world to say passports issued to this date are incomplete and they're recalling them.”

Irish passport control at Dublin Airport. Image: PA Images / Alamy

He added that if this issue had arisen at a different time of the year, it could have had much larger consequences.

“This is the lowest time of the year for passport applications. In December, only between three and four percent of applications go in,” he explained.

“January goes up to seven and then April it goes up to about 12%.”

He concluded that Ireland holds “one of the most valued passports in the world, they have to be squeaky clean and keep the record of Irish passports squeaky clean.”