Written answers

Wednesday, 19 January 2022

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Foreign Birth Registration

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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635. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a foreign birth registration application by a person (details supplied) has been received in view of the fact that this application was submitted in July 2020 and the person has not received an acknowledgement; when a foreign birth certificate will issue to the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63551/21]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department is responsible for citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.

The processing of Foreign Birth Registration has resumed and will be gradually scaling up in line with the recruitment of additional resources. Due to the complex nature of the Foreign Birth Registration process and the pause in the Service due to necessary Covid-19 restrictions, applicants are being advised that they should allow approximately 2 years for processing of Foreign Birth Registration applications at this time.

The application referenced was registered on 27 July 2020, and is being stored in a secure environment.

FBR staff continue to provide an emergency service for Foreign Birth Registration in cases of exceptional urgency, such as expectant parents, or stateless persons. Such applicants may contact the Passport Service directly.

My Department is fully committed to the continued allocation of additional resources over the coming period to assist with the processing of the Foreign Birth Registration applications currently on hand and the high volume of new applications anticipated this year.

Comments

Stephen McGarry
Posted on 21 Jan 2022 1:30 pm (Report this comment)

I am frustrated with these stock answers over the status of Foreign Birth Registrations. When you only have to look at public FBR chat sites to realise 2 years is now the minimum wait for an application to be processed and you have to send every piece of documentation proving your suitability for citizenship with the application.

My daughter's application is now over 2 years from the date all her documentation was received - 20 January 2020.

Regardless, I don't understand why this doesn't have a greater importance, given the soft power/influence this gives Ireland, having citizens all over the planet, especially in a post Brexit world.

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