Seanad debates

Wednesday, 22 October 2003

Irish Nationality and Citizenship and Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage.

 

I now turn to the essence of the matter which we are trying to address, the granting of certificates of naturalisation in return for investment. I referred earlier to the situation of the immigrant who comes to Ireland to set up an enterprise and, in the normal course, applies for naturalisation having settled here for a number of years. In this case, there can be no objection in principle to granting a certificate of naturalisation to the applicant, but I am concerned that the very wide sweep of the language in the proposed section 16B might unwittingly preclude naturalising that person. I do not think that is a result which the Senator would intend and it may not be the only reading of his proposed text. I do not think that it is a desirable effect and if we are to avoid it, we must choose language which leaves no room for that ambiguity.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.