Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 October 2004
466 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to a petition presented to his predecessor and signed by almost 2,000 Argentines of Irish descent, requesting that he allow Argentine born great grandchildren of Irish nationals to become Irish nationals; the details of the response given to the petitioners; his views on the question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25187/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra479 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to a petition presented to his predecessor and signed by almost 2,000 Argentines of Irish descent, requesting that the Minister allow Argentine born great grandchildren of Irish nationals to become Irish nationals; the response, if any, given to the petitioners; his own position on the question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25393/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 466 and 479 together.
The petition referred to by the Deputy was received in my Department on 26 June 2002. It was not possible to respond individually to the petitioners, of whom there were in the order of 2,000, but officials in the citizenship section of my Department have set out the position on a number of occasions to some of the signatories to the petition. The petition requested that I allow Argentine born great grandchildren of Irish nationals to become Irish nationals themselves or to allow them to seek and obtain employment in Ireland as if they were Irish nationals.
The great grandchildren of persons born in Ireland can obtain Irish citizenship by registering in the foreign births register provided either of their parents had at the time of their birth acquired Irish citizenship through registration in the register. There is one exception to that rule. If one parent had registered in the foreign births register prior to 31 December 1986, the person can register even if the parent had not registered at the time of that person's birth.
If persons are not entitled to Irish citizenship in these circumstances, they may nevertheless be entitled to Irish citizenship as a result of marriage to an Irish citizen — post-nuptial citizenship. A person is entitled to make a declaration of post nuptial citizenship if he or 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 has been 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.
Any non-national, be he or she Argentinian or otherwise, can apply for Irish citizenship through naturalisation. Such applications are considered under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts, 1956 to 2001, and the granting of a certificate of naturalisation is at my absolute discretion. The applicant must fulfil certain statutory requirements, including requirements relating to residency. However, I am empowered to dispense with the statutory conditions in whole or in part in certain circumstances — for example where the applicant is of Irish descent or Irish associations. Every such application is decided upon on its individual circumstances and in accordance with the law. The statutory residency requirements for persons who are married to Irish citizens have been reduced from 30 November 2002 in view of the fact that post-nuptial citizenship will no longer be available.
It would not be possible to change the existing provisions in relation to Argentinian nationals only — any such change would have to be applied to persons of all nationalities. In any event, I have no plans to address this matter in the citizenship legislation, which is before this House.
Argentinian citizens do not require an Irish visa to enter the State. However, if an Argentinian citizen wishes to work in the State, an employer should obtain a work permit on their behalf from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
