Seán Haughey
Ceist:452 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to review the law which confers automatic Irish citizenship to persons born here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26222/03]
Written Answers. - Citizenship Applications.
The Government is concerned at the abuse of Irish citizenship law by persons with no connection to the State arriving in Ireland with the sole objective of giving birth to a child who will, as a result of being born in Ireland, be entitled to Irish citizenship. The Supreme Court judgment of 23 January 2003 in the cases of L&O brought clarity to the situation of those non-national parents of a child born in Ireland who sought to establish a basis for residence in the State solely on the basis of their parentage of such a child. On 17 July 2003, the Government's policy on the handling of claims for leave to remain in the State from the parents of such children was announced. I am continuing to monitor the situation in regard to this issue including the question as to whether constitutional and legislative change may be necessary. Ireland is the only member state of the European Union which grants citizenship to a child based solely on its birth on the national territory. In all other member states, the citizenship of a child is dependent on the citizenship of the parents and-or the status and duration of residence in the member state concerned.