I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 29 and 232 together.
The entitlement to citizenship by birth has long been a feature of Irish legislation. Section 6 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, as amended by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 2001, provides that every person born in the island of Ireland is entitled to be an Irish citizen. This applies irrespective of the immigration status of either of the parents. This feature of Irish citizenship law is unique in the European Union, and unusual worldwide. In other EU member states the citizenship of a child born in that state is generally dependent on the citizenship of the parents and/or the status and duration of residence of the parents in the state concerned.