Barry Ward (Fine Gael)
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Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Higgins. Is í seo an chéad uair atá seans agam é sin a rá ó ainmníodh mar Aire Stáit í. Comhghairdeas léi. Táim buíoch di as teacht anseo inniu.

I wish to talk about a social inclusion measure in the naturalisation process. At the outset, I wish to say clearly that I think immigration is hugely important for this country. It is a good thing for this country. It is necessary for this country in supporting our economy and providing workers and taxpayers for our economy. It is full of potential from the point of view of producing a progressive and advancing population on the island of Ireland.I am very much for immigration and it is important to distinguish immigration as it is often confused with migration. I refer to the controversy that has recently occurred in respect of international protection. The people who come to Ireland and choose to make Ireland their home and place of work, the place where they pay taxes and, in the future, raise families, want to be part of Ireland. They want to come here, be part of our community and contribute to Ireland. We, as a State, do nothing to facilitate that. We do nothing to help them - I hesitate to use the word "integrate" because I do not want any of them to leave behind their own cultural norms, values and richness, which benefit us all - to understand our norms and cultural richness. There is an opportunity for the State to contribute to that but it is doing nothing in that regard. One of the ways that it is done across Europe is through a citizenship exam, but I am talking more about a structured system whereby we can greet people who come to make their homes here, give them classes on Irish citizenship, be they cultural or language classes, because there is a huge opportunity for the Irish language here, and at the end of the day, ask them to demonstrate, through an exam or some other process, that they have an understanding of those cultural norms. It is an opportunity for us to include them to an even greater extent in our community so that we have common popular culture references and historical references in order for them to have an understanding of the community they are entering and therefore have a much greater chance of being a functional and inclusive part of it.

As I said, this happens across Europe. The Netherlands is a prime example. It has a very comprehensive programme which educates people on the history of the Netherlands and its cultural references, but also gives them a number of hours of tuition in the Dutch language, if they choose to take it up. They all sit an exam, with allowances made for people who have difficulties and whatever it might be, but the key point is that if a person cannot pass the exam, it does not mean he or she has to leave; it just delays the naturalisation process. It does not affect the person's status as somebody who has the right to live, work and rear a family in the Netherlands. I am not talking about something exclusive or exclusionary, but something that is quite the opposite. It is something that includes people and gives them a road to become a true part of Irish society. In that regard, we have these naturalisation processes all over the country, which is a wonderful thing. I know there is one coming up next month in the INEC in Killarney and another in the Convention Centre Dublin. Why not have them at an even more local level, however? All of the people who come and choose to make their homes here live in local communities, not just in Killarney and Dublin but in towns and villages all over the country. We have local government infrastructure in each of those towns and villages. We have a local cathaoirleach or mayor or even the chair of a municipal district. Would it not be much better to have smaller and more intimate naturalisation ceremonies involving the local community? These ceremonies used to be done in District Courts but it has moved now to a larger scale ceremony. These are joyous occasions, when people who have gone through a lengthy process become part of our wider Irish community. Let us do it at a local level, where they live and work and where their neighbours are, and therefore have a truly inclusive and welcoming process for them.

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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On behalf of the Minister, Deputy McEntee, I thank the Senator for raising this matter in the Seanad today. He has described this as a social inclusion measure. We absolutely need to aspire to be more socially inclusive. As he said, citizenship ceremonies are wonderful events. I know that our new citizens cherish being part of them. They are a day to acknowledge the journey that has brought them to Ireland, where they have made a home. New Irish citizens undertake to faithfully observe the laws of the State and to respect its democratic values. Each new citizen makes a declaration of fidelity to the Irish nation and loyalty to the State. New Irish citizens are contributing to a diverse and inclusive workforce, bringing a range of skills and talents that enhance the overall capabilities of the labour market and economy. That is exactly the point the Senator made in his introduction. Over 10% of those who received their citizenship at the most recent ceremonies are now working in the healthcare sector across Ireland.

I am assured by the Department that the current application process is robust. All applicants are required to meet minimum periods of reckonable residence before they can apply. Applicants must also satisfy the good character criteria under section 15 of the Act, which includes checks for criminality.

With regard to citizenship ceremonies, as the Senator noted, we will have two ceremonies on 10 and 11 June, in the INEC, Killarney and the following week, on 20 and 21 June, more ceremonies will be held in the Convention Centre Dublin. Invitations to these ceremonies have begun to issue to successful applicants. I am informed that efforts have been made to accommodate applicants from the southern region at the Killarney events and others at the Dublin ceremonies. The location of ceremonies is an important point. I appreciate there are costs and time involved in travelling to ceremonies. I acknowledge what the Senator has said on the idea of local-level citizenship ceremonies. That would be really progressive and it is an interesting idea. I am pleased to say that the citizenship division of the Department is exploring every option with regard to the localisation and location of ceremonies. The granting of Irish citizenship is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. As regards the Senator’s specific inquiry on classes on citizenship, the Irish language and the introduction of a civic test, there are no plans to amend the Act to introduce a civic test as part of the application process.

Barry Ward (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for her reply. I am conscious that she is answering on behalf of the Minister, Deputy McEntee, who cannot be here this morning. I wish to make a few points. First, I have no doubt about the robustness of the process. In fact, it can be an obstacle to a lot of people in an unduly bureaucratic way, but I recognise it is a process that needs to be followed. I heard what the Minister of State said about the Department examining possibilities. This is an issue I raised many years ago, when Deputy Stanton was Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality and I was a councillor. I met people in the Dún Laoghaire area, for example, who were becoming citizens and travelling in to the convention centre to do it. They would be much better off doing it in Dún Laoghaire town hall or wherever it might be. That is what I am talking about in terms of localisation. I am a little bit disappointed by the Minister of State's indication that there are no plans to amend the legislation to introduce a civic test as part of the application process. There may not be such a plan but is there be any plan to examine the possibility, the possible benefits that might come with such a process and look at implementing it in the future?

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Before I call the Minister of State, I welcome Deputy Michael Collins and his guests to the Chamber. They are very welcome.

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I again thank the Senator for raising this matter, which I have taken on behalf of the Minister, Deputy McEntee. I will provide his feedback to her. The Senator is right. Some other EU countries have seen merit in introducing a civic test. I am informed that officials in the Department of Justice continually review all immigration applications and legislation to ensure they remain fit for purpose. The citizenship division of the Department has seen a dramatic increase in the number of people applying for citizenship. The Department has gone from 10,000 or 12,000 applications per year in the years pre Covid, to more than 23,000 applications received last year. The Department has reacted to this growing number of applications by more than doubling the number of ceremonies held last year. That incurs logistical cost and resources. As the Senator is aware, ceremonies were held in the RDS in March, in Killarney in June and in the Convention Centre Dublin in October and December. There will be a number of similar ceremonies throughout the country this year.

As the Senator may be aware, the Department of Justice has recently moved the application process for citizenship online as part of the overall digitisation of immigration services. This has allowed the Department to increase the number of applications processed and reduce the time it takes to process each application, which is a really positive move.

Finally, I acknowledge that citizenship ceremonies are a brilliant occasion. The Department has extended an invitation to the Senator to attend one of the upcoming ceremonies. I hope he will be able to attend. I understand it will be in Dublin city centre and he would prefer if it was more localised, but I do hope he will be able to attend.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins.