Naturalisation and Citizenship: Statements
Seanad Éireann — 2026-09-24
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Robbie Gallagher (FF), Labour Panel

I too welcome the Minister of State to the House. My comments follow on from the theme of the two previous speakers. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important debate. It is important to recognise what citizenship represents. Irish citizenship is one of the most important legal statuses the State can confer, and the Minister of State made comments in this regard in his contribution too. It provides a person with a permanent legal connection to this country and with the rights and responsibilities that come with being an Irish citizen. For someone who has moved to Ireland, built a life here, worked here, raised a family and become part of the local community, naturalisation can be an incredibly significant moment.
The Government's proposed reforms are about strengthening the integrity and value of Irish citizenship. The general scheme of the Bill proposes a number of significant changes, which the Minister of State has outlined. These include increasing the qualifying period of reckonable residence for most applicants from five years to eight years, including language and civic testing and requiring applicants to demonstrate self-sufficiency. Contraventions of immigration law would be clearly identified as a bar to naturalisation. These are important changes and I suggest that most reasonable people would not have an issue with them. They seek to ensure that citizenship reflects a genuine and durable connection with Ireland, an understanding of our society and a willingness to participate in the life of the State.
It is important that Ireland's system is considered in a wider European context. As the Minister of State also outlined, a number of European countries have residency requirements of between seven and ten years already in place. Indeed, our closest neighbour, the UK, has a period of six years in total to get citizenship through the standard naturalisation route. Language and civic requirements are common across most EU countries. Requirements around self-sufficiency and financial stability are also features of citizenship systems in a number of member states and throughout the world.
I also welcome the proposed strengthening of provisions dealing with immigration law compliance and the protection of the integrity of the naturalisation process. I note changes relating to the revocation of citizenship on public order and national security grounds, together with a streamlined revocation process. Nobody should have a problem with that either. Given the importance of citizenship, any revocation mechanism must be subject to strong safeguards, due process and appropriate legal oversight.
In particular, I note the proposed provisions relating to people who have been living here under temporary protection. This proposal would clarify that the time spent in the State under temporary protection, including protection provided to people fleeing the war in Ukraine, will not be reckonable for naturalisation purposes, as their country, no doubt, would welcome them back with open arms to rebuild it and its economy.
I understand that the proposed legislation will now proceed to pre-legislative scrutiny by the Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. Like Senator McDowell, I am a member of that committee. We look forward to debating the proposals during that process. No doubt, as Senator McDowell outlined in his contribution, situations will arise that will need full debate and to be looked at in a sympathetic manner.
As far as I am concerned, ultimately, Irish citizenship should remain a valued and meaningful status. These reforms should strengthen confidence in our naturalisation system, while supporting positive integration and ensuring that those who become Irish citizens have a genuine and lasting connection to the country they now call home.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-09-24/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-28T05:50:50+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-24