Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I understand that they are being kept under constant review but I am asking for a particular emphasis to be put on people who have lived and worked here for a considerable time and for this to be reflected in the fee they must pay. That is basically what I am asking for. It is not too much to expect that people who have worked and paid taxes here for ten or 15 years or more would have this recognised in the fee charged in respect of citizenship. Most of them consider themselves Irish. Many of them have been here since they were children, have gone to school here and have spent their lives here, yet they find the same fee is applicable to them as is applicable to someone who arrived in the country quite recently. It is a little onerous. These people's contribution should be reflected in the fee structure. I again ask the Minister of State to look at the issue in that context.

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