Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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762. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the protections against statelessness that his Department will put in place for naturalised Irish citizens, in the context of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 (Revocation of Certificate of Naturalisation) (Prescribed Forms) Regulations 2025 (S.I. No. 122/2025); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63245/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I can assure the Deputy that revocation of Irish citizenship is only undertaken in the most serious of circumstances as set out in section 19 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 (as amended). The loss of citizenship has serious consequences and each case is considered very carefully.

Following a Supreme Court ruling in the case of Damache v Minister for Justice [2020], changes to the process were made by the Court, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 to address the issues which gave rise to the Supreme Court judgment.

Under the new procedure, where the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration decides to revoke citizenship, they may do so under the five grounds set out in the 1956 Act. A notification of this intention is issued to the individual, who will be provided with the opportunity to make representations, and has 28 days to so, before a decision is made to revoke their certificate of naturalisation.

Following receipt of those representations, or on expiry of the 28 days, if the Minister decides to proceed to revoke the certificate of naturalisation, then the individual has 14 days in which to request a Committee of Inquiry to review the decision. Upon receipt of this request, the Minister will appoint a Committee of Inquiry which will be independent in its function of inquiry into the Minister's decision, and can either affirm the decision or set it aside.

In making a decision to revoke a certificate of naturalisation, the Minister takes a number of issues into account including any impacts on Constitutional and Convention rights, as well as any issues around statelessness. All of these factors must be weighed against the need to protect the security of the State.

Amendments to the process of revocation of citizenship came into effect from 7 April 2025 and the revised provisions can be found at revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/1956/act/26/section/19/revised/en/html.