Search the record

extended to make it possible for those citizens to vote. Turning to the North, the question must be asked; what does Irish citizenship mean? In 2013, the Convention on the Constitution voted overwhelmingly in favour of extending the presidential franchise to Northern citizens and Irish citizens living abroad … they believe represents them. Being an Irish citizen must mean more than the possession of a passport. The true and practical expression of citizenship is the right to participate in democracy, the right to vote to shape the leadership and direction of your nation. That right, the right

addressed in advance include whether the right to vote should be restricted to those born on the island of Ireland, those with citizenship or simply passport holders. The Labour Party supports citizenship as the condition for eligibility. As I said previously, establishing a special Oireachtas committee would

received in 2024? If application numbers continue to rise, as the figures suggest, will the Minister give any consideration to further upgrading the citizenship application portal or appointing additional staff in the citizenship division

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

that while it records the nationality of people in custody, this information is self-reported and the service does not routinely record citizenship. Accordingly, the requested information in respect of Irish and non-Irish citizens is not available, but I can confirm that, on 30 September, there were

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will abolish the proposed extension of the residency requirement by three years for citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70618/26

Minister to draw back from his very divisive proposal in terms of the change of citizenship rules. It is an answer to a problem that simply does not exist. It will punish migrant workers in this country These are migrant workers who, among other things, are staffing

poor junior Minister, Deputy Brophy, who is sent in here to defend it. It happened last week in the debate on citizenship and migration and here we are again. I do not know why the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, cannot be responsible and defend the policy

should low-paid workers, who give so much to this country, and who also pay tax, have less of a right to citizenship just because they are on low pay? Do the Ministers think that kind of discrimination is okay

immigration system which will drive faster processing times, particularly in areas such as visa processing, permission renewals and the all-important area of citizenship. I want to make the system more efficient. Furthermore, this budget includes an increased allocation of €10 million to the Tribunal for Asylum

appreciate, as we all do, that there is a process there that takes longer but it is, essentially, a confirmation of our citizenship, so it is an extremely important process that the office has to go through. The turnaround time for these applications begins on the date

advisable, therefore, to apply for a child’s passport as early as possible because a much longer process has to be gone through. Citizenship does have to be confirmed and a process also has to be gone through with the Garda and others in terms of checking

pulling the rug from under them. They came here four and a half years ago. They were looking forward to applying for citizenship in January. Now, they feel like they are not welcome because of the policies that are pursued by the Minister of State and the Government

rely on temporary bridging arrangements around Christmas and summertime. This is an issue of fairness. The State proposes an income threshold for citizenship but how can people demonstrate financial independence when the State's own processing delays prevent them from working? People who applied lawfully and on time

proposals to impose more severe regulations governing Irish citizenship are pandering to a tiny minority of far-right, anti-immigrant voices. It is shameful. As the Irish Council for Civil Liberties has said, no rationale, research or evidence has been presented by the Department for these proposed changes

approximately 20 years, but because he was apparently born just days after a change in the law, he is now struggling to obtain citizenship. Will the Minister of State personally examine that case? It should be straightforward but once again it is not. We need an immigration system

migration. In relation to cost, I expect to see large reductions in the cost of IPAS centres as we go forward. The new citizenship rules regarding residency again align us with other member states. One of the cornerstones of any system is that all citizens of the State

from sectarian intimidation, fear and thuggery and that that right must be defended. All of us know that the days of second-class citizenship are over and that we cannot and will not return to the past. We know also that for mediation to succeed, whatever form that

other parties, were central to the Good Friday Agreement, which was to create parity of esteem between all traditions, between British and Irish citizenship within Northern Ireland, as well as the North-South Ministerial Council and so forth. I do not accept that assertion by Deputy Boyd Barrett

devolved regional assembly in Stormont to preserve local governance for the unionist community, a shared bill of rights protecting the dual Irish-British citizenship, and re-evaluating our relationship with the Commonwealth. Also, our symbols like the flag and the national anthem are things we hold very dear

Additional resources aimed at secondary school students and young people aged 15 to 18 are also being developed to support active citizenship and participation during the Presidency period. Another important way the Government aims to increase public participation and interest in the work of the European Union

forces make formal or informal provisions to recruit non-nationals. Reasons vary, including historical regimental practice, manpower shortfalls, diaspora links or pathways to citizenship, but the result is the same: foreigners in regular state militaries. The French Foreign Legion, for example, offers a five-year contract, I understand

live in emergency accommodation. A customs officer - someone who came here from another country many years ago and who wants to get citizenship - has received a notice to quit. These are real people with real jobs. We need to hear that the Taoiseach's sympathy and understanding

CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT 1999 IN RELATION TO EVIDENCE IN CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS; TO MAKE FURTHER PROVISION IN RELATION TO CERTIFICATION OF CITIZENSHIP IN CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS AND FOR THAT PURPOSE TO AMEND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE (THEFT AND FRAUD OFFENCES) ACT 2001, THE MARITIME SECURITY ACT 2004, THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 if he would consider putting forward a person (details supplied) for citizenship of the State in recognition of his contribution to the Irish peace process. [20523/25

Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Justice the processing period for citizenship applications, in view of the fact a person (details supplied) has now being waiting five years since initially applying for citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13297/25

Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice to detail the citizenship entitlements of a person (details supplied) and the alternatives to citizenship if that is not available. [1128/25

Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide an update on an individual's citizenship status (details supplied); if any further documentation or information is required; and when a determination can be expected. [74610/26

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of applications for citizenship that were granted for the last 15 years in which there were no verbal interviews. [74584/26

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the rejection rate for citizenship applications for each of the last 15 years. [74583/26

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of applications for citizenship granted for the last 15 years for whom there were no checks of financial self sufficiency at all. [74585/26

consideration was given to a minimum period of tax residence in the State, or a requirement to hold citizenship or long-term residence, as a condition of eligibility; whether this was examined in any tax strategy group paper or other departmental analysis; if the Minister will consider such

Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether the Revenue Commissioners or the Department hold, or have at any time compiled, data on the nationality, citizenship or immigration permission of help to buy claimants; if not, whether any data matching with the Department of Social Protection or the immigration service

consulted by the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration on the proposal in the general scheme of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2026 to increase the standard naturalisation residence requirement from five years to eight; the observations his Department made; and whether his Department

paid to another person; the number of such cases involving non-Irish nationals; and the number involving persons who had previously acquired Irish citizenship. [71927/26

commissioners, whether the review is examining the responsibilities and protections of peace commissioners when certifying copies of passports, identity and residency documents for citizenship or immigration purposes; and if consideration is being given to providing guidance on the verification of such documents. [71887/26

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration given the increasing use of certified copies of passports and other identity and residency documents in citizenship and immigration applications, the guidance provided to peace commissioners on verifying documents presented to them; whether peace commissioners are expected to establish the authenticity

Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will address the concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the proposed Irish nationality and citizenship (amendment) Bill 2026, particularly the impact on persons already lawfully resident in the State and progressing towards naturalisation. [72155/26

persons who had already applied for international protection, or had already been granted protection, before the commencement of the new family reunification and citizenship provisions; if not, the reason no such arrangements were made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72351/26

Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the organisations, legal experts and other stakeholders consulted by his Department in developing the family reunification and citizenship changes contained in the International Protection Act 2026; the dates of such consultations; whether submissions received will be published; and if he will make

impact assessment was carried out in respect of the family reunification provisions of the International Protection Act 2026 and the extension of the citizenship residency requirement for refugees from three to five years; if so, the date it was completed; whether it will be published

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will abolish the proposed extension of the residency requirement by three years for citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70618/26

Affairs and Migration if his Department has conducted a cost-benefit analysis of his proposals to make it harder for people to attain citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70622/26

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is considering withdrawing proposed legislation that would further restrict people to obtain Irish citizenship. [70462/26

Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Health if free cervical smear tests are available to all women regardless of citizenship, visa or status in Ireland. [69877/26

asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether Stamp 0 residence accumulated prior to the commencement of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2026 will continue to be recognised as reckonable residence for naturalisation purposes; and whether transitional protections will apply to existing Stamp

Migration if the Government will consider protecting, either fully or partially, Temporary Protection Residence accumulated before the commencement of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2026. [68270/26

Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to clarify if a person (details supplied) who is currently on a stamp 4 visa, can apply for citizenship; to clarify the steps to take if the current stamp 4 visa expires; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68483/26

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to PQ68181/26, if consideration was given to the effect of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2026 on Irish citizens themselves — not just on the foreign-national spouse — of retroactively extending the timeline for their own husband, wife