Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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464. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the restoration of birthright citizenship for all persons born in Ireland. [45878/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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While as Minister I fully respect the change made by the Irish people in the 2004 referendum, the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021 will provide a shorter pathway to citizenship for children born in the State by reducing the residency requirement from 5 years to 3 years. 

The Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021 proposes improvements to the naturalisation process for children born in Ireland to parents who are not Irish citizens and to the ‘continuous residence’ requirement for all persons applying for naturalisation. The Bill will also set out clear procedures that will apply where a citizenship application is made on behalf of a child. 

With regards to the residency criteria for nationalisation applications, I intend to bring them forward by way of Committee stage amendments.

On 13 September 2022, my Department published the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021 and the progress of this Bill is now subject to the schedule of the Oireachtas.

The published Bill and updates on its progress through the Oireachtas are available here: www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2022/84/