Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 March 2010
425 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the routes to citizenship open to persons whose great grandparents were Irish born emigrants; if there are plans to amend citizenship eligibility rules in the context of the Irish diaspora; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12374/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraA person whose great-grandparent was born in Ireland may qualify for Irish citizenship by descent if one of the parents, being a grandchild of a citizen born in Ireland, had registered their name in the Foreign Births Register prior to the person's birth. There is one exception to that rule. If one parent had registered in the Foreign Births Register prior to 31 December 1986, their child 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 can apply for Irish citizenship through naturalisation. Such applications are considered under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts 1956 — 2004. The applicant must fulfil certain statutory requirements including requirements in relation 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 Deputy may be aware that a review of the current framework for the acquisition of Irish citizenship is underway in my Department. That review will consider a wide range of issues relating to the current statutory framework as well as other administrative arrangements in the granting of citizenship. There is scope in the review for consideration of the issue raised by the Deputy. I propose that the review will, when published, be the subject of public consultation before any final proposals are settled. Any recommendations arising from that review which require amendments to Citizenship legislation will be brought forward in the normal way.
