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Proposed changes smack of an attempt to pander to populist agitation
health services to hospitality services to care for the elderly, to name just some, are maintained and sustained by non-Irish-born workers. They are providing vital support to the physical, mental and recreational wellbeing of the nation as a whole.
They are also taxpayers contributing to the exchequer and, in the main, trying to build a life for themselves and their families in this country, just like their Irish-born colleagues, neighbours and friends. We have many challenges in Ireland, in common with practically all our European neighbours. We need and should demand that our senior politicians focus on solutions to these challenges that will deliver a better future for Ireland and her citizens, irrespective of birthplace.
These proposed changes smack of an attempt to pander to populist agitation in an effort to burnish the Minister’s strongman image. Tinkering unnecessarily with qualifying timelines for Irish citizenship will not help address the serious social issues we continue to face in Ireland today. – Yours, etc,Sir, – For years we have been driving hundreds of thousands of young Irish people abroad to seek jobs as nurses, teachers, police, builders, engineers and doctors.
These Irish citizens can now secure overseas citizenship after four years in Australia; three years in Canada; or five years as a “green card” holder in the US . In these countries they can buy houses; start families; afford childcare; and save for decent holidays and pensions. Citizenship applicants had to have three years’ residency in Ireland up to last year.
Now the Government is making it much harder, with an eight-year requirement and an ability to say “lá brea” and “slán leat” with conviction. There is a strong whiff of racism and placating the anti-immigrant protesters about this move. – Yours, etc,Sir, – The Minister for Justice is to be commended for bringing a badly needed overhaul of Irish citizenship requirements to Cabinet, given that we have one of the easiest to obtain citizenships in Europe at present.
A basic knowledge of language and civic law is essential to prevent future ghettos developing, to say nothing of social cohesion in trying times. – Yours, etc,Sir, – While Minister O’Callaghan contemplates tightening the rules around acquisition of citizenship, he should also seek to reform the rules around its loss.
Remarkably, the law as it stands empowers him to revoke the citizenship of naturalised citizens who continuously reside outside Ireland for seven years and do not annually register their intention to retain it. On the face of it, that means citizenship can be lost merely by the exercise of a fundamental right that it confers, namely free movement within the EU.
This 1950s view of what citizenship is effectively creates two classes of citizen, and it’s arguable whether it would stand up to challenge in the European courts. – Yours, etc,Sir, – It is heartening to see that our Government is citing alignment with European norms regarding attainment of Irish citizenship. This surely indicates that we can look forward to alignment with European norms in the delivery of GP and general medical services.
We are currently the only state in the EU where a large section of the population has to pay for GP visits and where it is felt necessary to have private health insurance to avail of prompt access to hospital services. Change for the better is obviously close at hand.
– Yours etc,Clamping in Dublin city centre to be largely replaced by towing and finesIceland summons US ambassador after Trump posts map showing island under American flag‘People just want safety’: Migrants feel ‘targeted’ by Irish citizenship reforms
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