Vol. 557 No. 2
187 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will assist a person (details supplied) in securing Irish citizenship; and if his attention has been drawn to the magnificent contribution to Irish society by the Irish-American community. [19590/02]
In processing applications for Irish citizenship, my Department must operate within the strict parameters of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts, 1956 and 1986. Under these Acts, the basic requirement for obtaining citizenship by descent, through entry in the foreign births register, is that an applicant's parent was an Irish citizen at the time of the applicant's birth.
If neither of the parents of the person to whom the Deputy refers was an Irish citizen at the time of his birth, he would not be entitled to Irish citizenship under the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts. I regret that there is no provision in law for an exception to be made to these requirements.
I am very well aware and warmly applaud the contribution to Irish society which has been made, collectively and individually, by the Irish-American community over the years.
