Helen McEntee

The government will include the necessary legislative changes in a forthcoming bill following discussions between Justice Minister Helen McEntee and Labour Senator Ivana Bacik.

Ms Bacik, a qualified barrister and legal academic, sought to make similar changes through her Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Naturalisation of Minors Born in Ireland) Bill, which she introduced to the Seanad in 2018.

The Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021 will now include provisions reducing the amount of time children have to be resident in the State to become Irish citizens from five years to three years.

The number of years a minor must be resident in Ireland will be reduced from four to two years out of the previous eight, in addition to the requirement to have one year’s continuous residence immediately prior to their citizenship application.

Ms McEntee said: “The granting of Irish citizenship is a privilege and an honour which is recognised by the thousands of people who apply every year.

“It is my hope that reducing the amount of time children of non-Irish nationals born in Ireland have to wait before being eligible for citizenship will provide comfort and reassurance to many families across the country.

“This is in keeping with my Department’s commitment to delivering a fair immigration system for a digital age, as set out in Justice Plan 2021.

“I was glad to work and engage with Senator Ivana Bacik on this proposal, and I look forward to it being implemented as quickly as possible.”

She added: “This amendment provides increased security for children where a parent subsequently falls out of permission as the child will be entitled to Irish citizenship and will therefore be an EU citizen with the right to remain in the State with a non-EEA national guardian or parent.

“However, it will not broaden the categories of children who are entitled to citizenship and this amendment will only apply to the children of those parents who are legally resident in the State. Children born here to non-national parents who have three years prior residency will continue to be Irish citizens from birth.”

Ms McEntee will also meet with Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman in the coming weeks to explore whether it would possible for Tusla to apply for citizenship on behalf of older children in their care in light of particular difficulties they may face.