Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

Where a child is born to an Irish citizen either in Ireland or abroad then that child is an Irish Citizen from birth and has an entitlement to an Irish passport. Where that child is born abroad they should register the birth on the Foreign Births Register maintained by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

There is no automatic right to Irish Citizenship for the children of Non-EEA national parents resident in the State. However, where a child is born in the State to a Non-EEA national parent who has 3 years reckonable residence in the State prior to the birth, an application for Citizenship can be made in respect of that child.

The documentation requested by the Deputy, is available on my Department's website here: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/declaration-of-residence/.

The only other means by which a minor can obtain Irish citizenship is through naturalisation. As minors cannot apply for naturalisation in their own right, any application must be made by their parent, legal guardian or person acting on the child's behalf "in loco parentis".

Detailed information on how to apply for naturalisation is available on my Department's Irish Immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/.