In relation to the first matter raised by the Deputy, I am advised that the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department operates a number of helplines to facilitate clients in making enquiries on immigration and citizenship issues. These helplines are provided between certain set periods each week, for example, the citizenship helpline is available two mornings a week from 10am to 12.30pm. The periods for which the helplines operate strikes a balance between facilitating customers in making queries to INIS and the overall priority of ensuring that immigration and citizenship applications are processed as quickly as possible. In addition to the provision of helpline services, email facilities are also provided, allowing customers to contact INIS at their own convenience. Details of all helpline and email services are set out on the INIS website, www.inis.gov.ie. It must also be emphasised that INIS, together with the Garda National Immigration Bureau, provides public services at its offices at Burgh Quay in respect of registration of non-EEA persons residing in the State and for applicants seeking re-entry visas. Furthermore, on a daily basis the office receives a number of callers seeking information or for other business. In total the number of persons attending the office is in the region of 130,000 per annum.
Regarding the second part of the Question concerning Immigration Officers, provision is made at section 3(1) of the Immigration Act 2004 for the Minister for Justice and Equality to appoint such and so many persons as he or she considers appropriate (referred to in the Act of 2004 as “Immigration Officers”) to perform the functions conferred on Immigration Officers by the Act . The majority of persons appointed as Immigration Officers are Members of An Garda Síochána with the remainder comprising officials of my Department working in the immigration area who have been appointed as Immigration Officers for the purposes of carrying out their duties. Figures for the number of persons appointed Immigration Officers in the period 1990 to 1998 are not available. However, I can inform the Deputy that since 2004 the total number of Gardaí and officials of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service appointed as Immigration Officers under the Immigration Act 2004 is 623. It should be noted that all persons who were acting as an Immigration Officer prior to the commencement of the 2004 Immigration Act were upon commencement of the Act deemed to have been appointed as an Immigration Officer under section 3 of the Act.
Finally, it is not clear in respect of the citizenship element of the Question as to whether the Deputy has a particular case in mind and in the absence of specific details it is difficult to evaluate eligibility for citizenship. However, the general position is that the mere fact of having a child born in Ireland confers no additional rights to citizenship for its parents. The eligibility of parents to be considered for naturalisation will depend on the nature, duration and legality of their own residence in accordance with the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, (as amended). The child's own eligibility for citizenship at birth will, under the same Act, depend on the status of his/her parents, for instance whether one of them is an Irish national, or, in the case of a foreign national parent, whether they have, prior to the child's birth, met the residency requirements of the Act.
