Migration and Citizenship: Statements
Dail Éireann — 2026-09-30
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Paul McAuliffe (FF), Dublin North-West

I welcome the proposals brought forward by the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, and Minister of State, Deputy Brophy. I encourage the Opposition to consider them at face value rather than ascribing a motivation to them. I believe they are in many ways common-sense proposals. Citizenship is among the most important rights a state can confer on an individual. It is not just a paper document. It is a reflection of a connection to Ireland and a commitment by the citizen to actively participate in the life of our nation, in our communities and in our democracy. Citizenship offers an individual the opportunity to actively participate together with others who call this island home and those around the world who are summoned to our flag.
In my community, I see those families. I see those who came here to work, study and build a life. They are involved in our sports clubs, staff our hospitals and run our local businesses. They are our neighbours and friends. It is a proud day for both them and Ireland when they cross that threshold and become citizens of a republic. You can see it on their faces in the photographs and the video footage. It is because that moment matters so much that we should protect it.
The proposals in the Irish nationality and citizenship (amendment) Bill 2026 include increasing the qualifying period of reckonable residence from five to eight years and introducing language testing in English, Irish and, importantly, Irish Sign Language, alongside a test on Irish civics, society and politics. Importantly, none of this is unusual. Austria, Italy, Spain and Switzerland all set residency periods in a similar way. Most EU countries require language proficiency. Civics tests are common across the Union. Economic self-sufficiency is a standard pillar of citizenship policy from Germany to Denmark to Poland. These changes bring Ireland into line with our European partners.
Of course, we retain sovereignty in this area, but this comparison with other EU countries is important because in granting Irish citizenship, we are effectively granting EU citizenship and granting people access to the four freedoms that we cherish so dearly in the European Union. The Bill will also give the Minister a distinct power to revoke citizenship on public order and national security grounds, with a streamlined process to do so, surely a reasonable safeguard for any state.
The Bill will now go to the Oireachtas joint committee on justice for pre-legislative scrutiny. I look forward to a detailed debate there because there are questions with regard to addressing the transitionary arrangements. However, in the same way that these are common-sense proposals, I expect that those transition arrangements will also be dealt with in a common-sense way. I commend the Bill to the House.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-09-30/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-10-05T01:00:59+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-30