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Minister McEntee To Make It Easier For Children To Secure Irish Citizenship - The Department of Justice
Minister McEntee To Make It Easier For Children To Secure Irish Citizenship - The Department of Justice
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/ Minister McEntee to make it easier for children to secure Irish citizenship
citizens from five years to three years. The number of years a minor must be resident in Ireland will now be two
years out of the previous eight, in addition to the requirement to have one year’s continuous residence
This proposal emerged from discussions between Minister McEntee and Labour Senator Ivana Bacik in respect of
a Seanad Private Members Bill, and will allow children who are currently on a pathway to citizenship to attain this
These changes will be contained in the upcoming Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021, and the General
Scheme for this Bill is expected to be submitted to Government in the coming weeks.
“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.
Minister McEntee continued,
“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
Minister McEntee has also committed to exploring 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.
This continues to be explored with careful consideration of any implications for children in particular (for
example, if a child has citizenship of another country that does not permit dual citizenship) and Minister McEntee
is expected to meet with Minister for Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman TD,
Ends
COOKIE SETTINGS
https://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/PR21000057 2/2