There are three ways in which a non-national can obtain Irish citizenship; by descent, by naturalisation or by marriage to an Irish citizen – post-nuptial citizenship. I have set out below some general information about these methods of acquiring Irish citizenship. However, without further information regarding the person referred to in the Deputy's question, I am not in a position to advise as to which of the methods outlined below is appropriate to the person concerned.
A person whose father or mother was an Irish citizen at the time of his-her birth is an Irish citizen from birth. A person whose grandparent was born in Ireland may become an Irish citizen by registering in the foreign births register at an Irish embassy or consular office or at the Department of Foreign Affairs. A person whose great-grandparent was born in Ireland may register in certain circumstances. Further information in this regard may be obtained from consular section, Department of Foreign Affairs, Hainault House, St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, or from any Irish embassy or consular office.
A person is entitled to make a declaration of post-nuptial citizenship if he-she is married to an Irish citizen – who is Irish other than by naturalisation, post-nuptial citizenship or honorary citizenship – for at least three years. The marriage must be valid and subsisting and the couple must be living together as husband and wife at the time of declaration. The post-nuptial process is being repealed with effect from 30 November 2002. By way of a transitional provision, persons who are married to Irish citizens before that date but fail to satisfy the three-year criterion at that time can make the declaration after that date upon completion of three years of marriage. The transitional provision will cease to apply on 30 November 2005.