Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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95. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will refrain from imposing language tests as a criterion of citizenship. [22279/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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It is recognised that an essential tool to facilitate integration into host communities and to enable access to various State and other services is through a basic working knowledge of the language in everyday use. As the Deputy may be aware, the Migrant Integration Strategy, published by my Department earlier this year, includes a commitment that the introduction of civic and language tests for those seeking citizenship will be examined. This work on this is at a very early stage and I expect will involve public consultation at the appropriate stage.