Dáil debates
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
Citizenship Applications.
2:30 pm
Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
A review of the current framework for the acquisition of Irish citizenship is under way in my Department. Statutory provisions for the acquisition of Irish citizenship are contained in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. While the provisions of that Act have been amended on a number of occasions, in 1986, 1994, 2001 and 2004, to take account of significant policy developments in the State, it is now timely to look again at those provisions having regard to our recent immigration experience.
The review will consider a wide range of issues relating to the current statutory framework as well as other administrative arrangements in the granting of citizenship. Among the issues to be considered are eligibility periods for naturalisation, appropriate language and integration tests, proposals for a citizenship ceremony, as well as methods by which the current application procedures can be improved. Many countries have adopted integration, culture and language tests along with a number of other concepts such as earned citizenship in conjunction with longer residency requirements.
The Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008, which is currently before the House, contains significant proposals that will overhaul our immigration legislation. It will therefore be necessary to ensure that any new proposals on citizenship link with the policies outlined in the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill.
The review is currently under way in my Department and will be progressed in consultation with the office of the Minister with responsibility for integration. I expect to publish the review in 2010 and the review will be subject to public consultation before final proposals are published. In conducting a review of our citizenship requirements it must be remembered that the granting of an Irish citizenship application by the State is a privilege for its recipient, not an entitlement. It cannot be regarded as being automatically awarded to applicants who have simply been lawfully resident in the State for a specified length of time. On the contrary, naturalisation should be seen as a major and mutual commitment by the prospective citizen and the State. It is entirely appropriate in those circumstances that the State should require that the applicant demonstrates a real commitment to the nation. It is with this overarching principle in mind that the review is being conducted.
Renee Jenkins
Posted on 10 Oct 2009 9:47 am (Report this comment)
With regard to the updating of the Act of 1956, this has had a big effect on our family. When we arrived from South AFrica in 2001, our children were 3, 12 and 14. They went to school as all children do. The 2 oldest went to college as we all want our children to do. How can you explain why they were declined citizenship based on the fact that most of the 5 years prior to application was in school or education? They never chose to come here. They came as minors with ourselves, they obeyed the law, 1 was a prefect in school, they made friends and became part of the community. All this and they can't be citizens because they were educated. Now at 21 and 22, the same children who still live in the family home, can't travel to the UK without having to get a visa, which is a major problem and very expensive. This is the difference between long term residency and citizenship.