Language test to be part of new Irish citizenship rules

Ireland is preparing to make citizenship applicants wait eight years before applying for naturalisation, up from the current five, under a proposed overhaul of the system.

The plans, which Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan is due to bring to Cabinet this week, would also require applicants to take a language test and prove that they are economically self-sufficient. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the measures would bring Ireland more closely into line with other European Union member states.

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a balance

Speaking at Fianna Fáil's think-in in Tullamore, County Offaly, Martin said applicants would need English-language skills, some basic familiarity with Irish, and an understanding of Ireland and its values. He said the Government was trying to strike "a balance" in deciding who should receive Irish citizenship.

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balance between independence, self-reliance, as opposed to total dependency

Martin also linked the proposals to the ability of new citizens to contribute to society. He described the goal as a "balance between independence, self-reliance, as opposed to total dependency" and said the Cabinet would discuss how to take the plans forward.

The Taoiseach said the coalition had also made a "significant and decisive change" to migration policy through the implementation of the EU migration pact. He said Ireland now had a firmer migration system, asylum applications had fallen over the past year, and returns were being handled more efficiently. He added that accommodation costs for asylum seekers were falling significantly.

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significant and decisive change