Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

We were probably too weary at the end of the day, or something like that, to discuss this. A person can become an Irish citizen, or claim Irish citizenship, in a number of ways. Such a person might never have lived in this country. If someone arrives at Dublin Airport with a stash of banned substances in his or her suitcase and another prohibited substance in his or her pocket, and he or she is then detected, arrested, duly lodged in prison, charged, found guilty and imprisoned, the only time when he or she will have been resident in this country will have been the period he or she spent in prison. The person in question will not have established any prior residency here. In such circumstances, it would be unwise to give criminals a right that is not enjoyed by law-abiding citizens who are not resident in this country. It would be odd to create this right simply by reason of residency in prison.

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