But the system, which would be applied even to visa-waiver countries such as Ireland, has just been put on the long finger for the second time. Biometric screening, which would mean travelers carrying passports containing biometric data, such a fingerprints or iris scans, was supposed to be put in place in October of last year.

Implementation was, however, delayed until October of this year. Now it has been moved to October 2005 at the earliest as a result of the Bush administration's wishes, and a supportive decision by Congress.

Fears had been expressed that other countries were not ready to meet the requirements and that it would mean travelers from visa-waiver countries having to wait long periods to obtain U.S. visas.

The New York Times, in an editorial earlier this year, warned that suddenly requiring visas afresh from the 27 visa-waiver nations would hurt the U.S. tourist industry and cause chaos at U.S. consular office overseas.

"There has to be internationally agreed standards for biometric passports," said Christina McIlwaine, spokeswoman for the Irish Consulate in New York.

McIlwaine said that the U.S. State Department had expressed its desire to see a two-year extension before the biometric system was implemented. Consequently, she said, October of 2005 was in fact an optimistic estimate of its coming into effect.

The 9/11 commission, by contrast, wants implementation of the biometric check system to be placed on a faster track. In a list of recommendations under the head "Protect against and prepare for Terrorist Attacks," the Executive Summary of the commission's report states: "Quickly complete a biometric entry-exit screening system, one that also speeds qualified travelers."

Whether the implementation turns out to be fast track or slow, however, most Irish passport holders are now carrying machine readable passports that, while not containing biometric data, can still be checked against the holder by passing them through a scanner.

And before the end of this year, all Irish passport holders will be included in the U.S. Visitor and Immigration Status Indicator Technology, or USVISIT program.

During the summer peak traveling weeks, most U.S.-bound Irish travelers will not have to comply with the new digital fingerprinting and facial photography requirements of USVISIT because Ireland is one of the 27 countries in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.

Those Irish not currently required to be checked under USVISIT are visitors traveling to the U.S. under the 90-day visa waiver rules.

Irish passport holders with visas, however, are already being checked under USVISIT provisions at the U.S. immigration pre-clearance stations at Dublin and Shannon airports.

The process uses an inkless box that digitally scans the prints of both index fingers and a computer camera that simultaneously takes a photo of the individual's face.

From Oct. 1 of this year, the USVISIT requirements will be applied to all U.S.-bound Irish passport holders whether they hold visas or are traveling under the waiver program.