Fiona O'Loughlin
Question:128. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the definition of an Irish citizen. [27026/18]
View answerWednesday, 20 June 2018
Questions (128)
Written answers
Under the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, an Irish citizen is defined as a citizen of Ireland. Entitlement to Irish citizenship is governed by the above-mentioned Act. The Act provides that subject to Section 6A every person born in the island of Ireland is entitled to be an Irish citizen. The Act also provides that if either of a child's parents was, at the time of that child's birth, an Irish citizen, that child is an Irish citizen irrespective of the place of birth.
Section 6A of the Act provides that a child born in the island of Ireland on or after 1 January 2005 has an entitlement to Irish citizenship if, at the time of the birth of the child, one of his or her parents had, during the period of 4 years immediately preceding the person's birth, been resident in the island of Ireland for a period of not less than 3 years or periods the aggregate of which is not less than 3 years. Periods of unlawful residence, periods of residence which were for the sole purpose of having an application for refugee status determined or periods of residence where permission was granted for the purposes of study are excluded under the Act from the determination of periods of reckonable residence.
Where a child born in the State did not at birth have an entitlement to Irish citizenship, the parent or guardian or person who is in loco parentis to the child may lodge an application for naturalisation on behalf of the child if and when the conditions for naturalisation are satisfied, including a requirement to have 5 years residence in the State. Detailed information on citizenship and the naturalisation process, including the relevant application forms, is available on the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) website at www.inis.gov.ie.