Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 July 2021
541. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice if she will propose an amendment to the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 in order to provide for retrospective posthumous registration on the foreign birth register; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37211/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraEntitlement to Irish citizenship is determined by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 as amended, under which Irish citizenship may be obtained by birth, by descent, or by naturalisation.
The requirements for foreign births registration are set out in section 27 of the Act. The Department of Foreign Affairs manages the application process for those applications. Further details are available on their website at: www.dfa.ie .
Section 7(3) of the 1956 Act provides that the Irish citizenship of a person who, after 1 July 1986, is registered under section 27 shall commence only as on and from the date of such registration.
Section 27(5) of the 1956 Act provides that the Minister for Foreign Affairs may make regulations in respect of the foreign births register. Regulation 6 of the Foreign Births Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 47 of 2013) provides that an entry in the foreign births register shall not be made save at the request of the person whose birth is registrable or, where such person is not of full age, of either parent of that person or of any person present at the birth of or having charge of the person whose birth is registrable.
While all legislation is kept under review, I can inform the Deputy that currently there are no plans to amend the provisions of the 1956 Act regarding the registration of foreign births.
