Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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129. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if his Department has carried out an assessment of the potential impact on migration into the State of the proposed introduction of mandatory digital identity cards for workers in the United Kingdom; and if he will publish the details of same [52412/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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130. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if contingency planning has been undertaken by his Department to address the risk of increased irregular migration into the State via the land border with Northern Ireland arising from changes in UK immigration enforcement policy; and if he will set out the measures considered. [52413/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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131. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if his Department has consulted with the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade regarding the diplomatic and legal implications for Ireland of potential secondary migration flows into the State following UK immigration policy changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52415/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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132. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality whether he has directed his officials to develop protocols with the Police Service of Northern Ireland to monitor and address irregular migration across the land border arising from prospective changes in UK immigration enforcement; and if he will outline those protocols. [52416/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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133. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality whether he has commissioned any legal analysis on the compatibility of existing Common Travel Area arrangements with the introduction of mandatory digital identity cards in the UK; and if he will publish that legal advice. [52417/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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135. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality whether he intends to seek support or assistance at European Union level in the event that the State experiences a disproportionate increase in asylum or migration applications as a result of UK policy changes; and if he will set out the form such support might take. [52419/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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136. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality whether his Department has updated its risk assessments of international protection applications to account for the likelihood of individuals relocating from the United Kingdom into this jurisdiction in anticipation of stricter UK immigration enforcement; and if he will provide the findings. [52420/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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137. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality whether he will report to Dáil Éireann on the preparedness of the State’s immigration, border management and asylum systems to address any displacement of irregular migrants from the UK to Ireland following the introduction of mandatory digital identity cards in Britain. [52421/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 to 133, inclusive, and 135 to 137, inclusive, together.

The announcement by the British Government concerning the introduction of digital identity cards in the UK has been noted and I look forward to seeing details of the proposals in due course.

Changing migration trends are kept under continual review and are responded to by my Department. Any variation in migration trends within the common travel area following the future introduction of these UK measures or otherwise will see my Department adapting its response accordingly.

I can assure the Deputy that safeguarding the CTA and implementing effective border security arrangements are central priorities for me. The Programme for Government commits to continuing to work with the United Kingdom Government to introduce further measures to tackle abuses within the CTA and strengthen the external border of the CTA.

My Department chairs a Common Travel Area Forum (CTAF) with the UK Home Office which acts as a steering committee for the ongoing work of protecting the CTA in relation to free movement of its citizens between both countries while at the same time ensuring that the CTA is not abused by those not entitled to avail of it. The Forum meets twice yearly but also meets in sub-group format to address particular elements of Ireland/UK co-operation, bringing together relevant subject matter expertise in areas such as asylum and border management.

More broadly, there is extensive engagement and cooperation at all levels between my Department officials and their Home Office counterparts, as well as significant operational cooperation between the Gardaí, UK Border Force, UK policing services and the Police Service of Northern Ireland. This strong practical engagement and cooperation serves the mutual interests of both Ireland and the UK and will continue.

In line with the Programme for Government my Department is carrying out a joint risk assessment which forms part of the CTAF work programme and is an opportunity to share and compare information about migration into and within UK and Ireland. The assessment will consider emerging trends which may impact operational and policy priorities; its overarching aim is to inform policy making and operational prioritisation in line with our existing strategy to secure the external CTA border. The assessment will consider issues such as entry via clandestine means, abuse of legal migration pathways, any potential abuse of the International Protection system in UK and Ireland and entry to the UK or Ireland via CTA routes in breach of exclusion or deportation orders.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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134. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide details of any interdepartmental discussions his Department has held with the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, regarding the possible impact on asylum accommodation and welfare services of migration pressures linked to UK immigration reforms. [52418/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The International Protection Accommodation Service has been operating under significant pressure since 2022. A sudden and unexpected surge in applications for international protection between 2022 and 2024 placed increased demand on its services.

Although the rate of increase in demand has eased in recent months, approximately 1,000 people a month are applying for international protection and eligible for IPAS accommodation.

As such, all trends in international protection applications, including the impact of international conflicts and policy changes in other jurisdictions are kept under ongoing review.

The Government is prioritising reforms on the international protection system as a whole, speeding up application processes and moving towards providing more accommodation on State-owned sites.

Ireland has adopted and is now working to implement the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum in mid-2026. The Pact will provide a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure. This will be achieved through convergence in asylum practices across the EU. The General Scheme of a new International Protection Bill to give effect to the measures of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact has been approved by Government.

These reforms will allow the State to move away from reliance on commercial providers of accommodation, and over time, processing applications more rapidly should help curtail the need for constant growth in the accommodation system that has been seen over recent years.

This Government has established a Cabinet Committee on Justice, Migration and Social Affairs and this provides an additional forum for cross-Departmental consideration of all trends that might have an impact on international protection applications, accommodation and wider public services in this sector.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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138. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if proposals are under consideration for citizenship to automatically be granted to residents who live in Ireland for over twenty years (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52456/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are assessed individually based on the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.

Applicants are required to have 5 years reckonable residence in the State prior to making an application, except for spouses of Irish nationals where the requirement is 3 years. In all cases, the final 12 months must be continuous residence in the State with up to 70 days allowed to facilitate foreign travel for business family or holiday purposes.

It is open to the person concerned to submit an application for a certificate of naturalisation if they satisfy the relevant criteria.

The fees to be paid by an applicant for a certificate of naturalisation are governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 569 of 2011).

There is an application fee of €175 and a certification fee of €950 is then required following a positive decision being reached on the naturalisation application.

The standard certification fee is set at €950, while a reduced fee of €200 applies in the case of an application made on behalf of a minor or in certain cases where the application is made by a widow, widower or surviving civil partner of an Irish citizen.

There is no provision in the Regulations for a discretionary waiver or reduction of fees, or for differing fees to apply to different nationalities, or based on the length of residency in the State.

The State has not increased the fees for naturalisation applications since 2011.

All of the fees payable under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, are kept under ongoing review by my Department.

Detailed information on how to apply for naturalisation and other resources is available on my Department’s Immigration website here: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/