My Department does not operate a scheme for the grant of an Irish passport as outlined by the Deputy. The issue of an Irish passport is a matter for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and is contingent on the person being an Irish citizen.
The granting of Irish citizenship is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. Section 15 of the Act provides that the Minister may, in his absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation if satisfied that the applicant satisfies the statutory conditions for naturalisation as set out. These statutory conditions include good character and residence conditions. The residence conditions are that an applicant must have one year of continuous residence in the State immediately before the date of application and, during the eight years immediately preceding that period, have a further four years residence (5 years in total).
All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are considered on their own merits and in accordance with the provisions of the Act. There is no provision for a grant of citizenship under the circumstances as outlined by the Deputy.
It is open to any individual, including an investor to the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP), to lodge an application for citizenship if and when they are in a position to meet the statutory conditions as prescribed in the Act. Detailed information on Irish citizenship and naturalisation is available on the INIS website at www.inis.gov.ie.
In relation to foreign direct investment into Ireland, the Government agreed to the introduction of the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) in 2012, which provides non-EEA investors with the opportunity to invest in the State. Successful applicants are granted "Stamp 4" immigration permission for themselves and their family members (nuclear family only) for an initial 2-year period and this is renewed thereafter for 3 years and then 5 years continuous, subject to normal visa and security checks. Successful applicants to the IIP are however only required to spend one 24-hour period in a calendar year in the State - on that basis many would never meet the statutory residence requirements for naturalisation.
