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system as much as possible so that people can get their passports quickly. The Deputy then raised the issue of people who seek citizenship through naturalisation. I had the great privilege of being down in Killarney on Monday when a judge was handing out citizenship. I was there … celebrate the citizenship of new Irish citizens. The Deputy would be surprised at the number of people there who have been in Ireland for years. I hope Mr. David Evans, also known as the Edge, does not mind me mentioning him but he has some public prominence

want the Deputy to know that Irish passports and citizenship are not granted easily. I am sure that if the Minister for foreign affairs were here, he would confirm that is true of passports. With regard to citizenship, many colleagues in this House ask me about citizenship applications … process is so lengthy. The reason is that you have to do very significant vetting and testing before an individual is granted citizenship. That is done vigorously. The criticism I usually face from people in the House is that it takes too long and that the process should

will need to be addressed include whether the right should be restricted to those born on the island of Ireland, all those with citizenship or those with a passport. We would support citizenship as a condition for eligibility. There is, however, a real risk a referendum could … Dáil elections but EU citizens who have been living here for decades are barred from doing so unless they take up citizenship. While most EU countries allow their citizens living abroad to vote in their elections, there is a strong case for seeking agreement on a European level

generation and the next generation of our diaspora and we are continuing to see a growing interest in people exploring their Irish citizenship. Demand for foreign-birth registrations, or citizenship by descent, has increased exponentially over the past number of years. Prior to the Brexit referendum, those foreign … will continue to be differences in constitutional preference and identity. The question today is not just about identity but also about citizenship. It is about ensuring the rights of everyone on this island are respected. That is paramount to maximising the benefits of the Good Friday Agreement

identification at all - no passport, birth certificate or official documents - are being allowed to apply for asylum and, later, in some cases, Irish citizenship. In certain circumstances, where they cannot provide identification, they are allowed to submit a sworn affidavit instead, that is, a legal document that simply … Department of foreign affairs and the Department of justice confirm that we do not track or count the many people who are granted citizenship or passports in this way. The State is simply not counting them. I will put this number in perspective for the Minister. Some

Does the Minister believe it is acceptable that Irish passports and citizenship can be granted by his Government without proper documentation? That is the question here. That is what it is really about. All the Minister has done in his answer is to confirm that people can enter … keep proper State records. This is about national security. It is about identifying who is coming into our country before we grant them citizenship or an Irish passport. The Minister knows as well as I do how you are put through the wringer when you have to apply

diaspora, often aptly referred to as the children of the far-flung, as in the book by Geraldine O'Connell. I believe citizenship should have no borders. Once a person holds an Irish passport, even if they do not reside in our country, they should be entitled

North whom we do not include. All of this happens despite the Twenty-seventh amendment allowing for us to extend these people citizenship as their birthright, as we have heard from other speakers. When we talk about the principles of franchise, they must flow from that principle laid

just about choosing a figurehead; it is also about stating clearly that citizens belong, that their voice counts and that their citizenship is real. This debate should go further, however, because what we are really being asked to consider is not just votes but a vision – a vision

that can be done. It is important for Tyrone, Derry and indeed Donegal. The Good Friday Agreement confirmed the right of Irish citizenship to everybody on the island of Ireland. We have had candidates from the North. We had Martin McGuinness, an excellent candidate from the Six Counties

presidential election but they cannot actually vote. We have failed to uphold the rights of those in the North to their Irish citizenship as recognised in the Good Friday Agreement. The truth is that the issue should have been resolved long before now. It is right that

well as those abroad in the diaspora, feel completely abandoned by this State. The Government has a constitutional duty to uphold the citizenship rights of everybody born on the island of Ireland. We should not be facing into this presidential election in a few months' time with fellow

Israeli forces are brave activists, bringing symbolic aid to a people who have been abandoned by the world. The activists hold EU citizenship and one is an MEP. I hope the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste will raise this kidnapping of activists at international level. I also ask that

Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will consider extending the right to citizenship to great-grandchildren of Irish citizens, without the need for their parent to have attained citizenship before they were born.; and if he will make a statement

Hara asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to examine the case of a person (details supplied) requiring assistance with a citizenship application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35003/25

statement that the Minister proposes to grant their application, and who have submitted the requested information, are still waiting for dates for their citizenship ceremony; the efforts being made to reduce the time for these dates to issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is aware that some new citizens who attended their citizenship ceremony in February 2025 have yet to receive their naturalisation certificates; the efforts are being made to reduce the time for these certificates

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when a person (details supplied) will receive their citizenship certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32177/25

Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when the invitations to the next citizenship ceremony will be issued. [32695/25

Affairs and Trade if affidavits are accepted instead of birth certificates or as a form of identification for passport applicants who were awarded citizenship. [29751/25

Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is aware of the problems encountered by families with children with autism who have obtained citizenship and are currently being accommodated in hotels on an interim basis, having been required to leave direct provision centres; if his Department has provided

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will provide an update on the citizenship application made by a resident of County Clare (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30035/25

Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the status of a citizenship application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30434/25

Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of applications for Irish citizenship received so far in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30544/25

Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average processing time for applications for Irish citizenship; how this compares with average processing times in 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30545/25

Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of staff currently working in the Citizenship Unit of the Department of Justice; how this compares with staffing numbers in 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the status of a citizenship application; when it is likely that same will be completed, in view that it is over 28 months since the application (details supplied) was first lodged; and if he will make