Seanad debates

Wednesday, 22 October 2003

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

 

All I am asking for is a debate on where we are going with our citizenship and I applaud Senator Quinn's initiative in commencing this debate in the House. I hope it continues in light of the Minister's comments. I am strongly of the opinion that anyone who wishes to acquire Irish citizenship should pass some form of test other than those outlined in the current legislation. If one goes to America to take out citizenship, as hundreds of thousands of Irish citizens have done over the decades, one has to pass a test of one's knowledge of the constitution and various other aspects of American political life. David Blunkett, the British Home Secretary, has expounded his views on how one should go about getting citizenship in the UK. Here we have the consequences of the Good Friday Agreement and we are also now a pull country for immigration. Sadly, some are abusing this law because it is in existence.

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