Government Accused Of "Tinkering Around The Edges" With Citizenship Changes

The Minister for Justice should be more focused on deporting criminals than making it harder to become an Irish citizen.

That's according to a Wexford TD who says changes to the application process is just spin from a Government under pressure.

Minister Jim O'Callaghan wants to change the residency period from five to eight years before you can apply to be a citizen as well as introducing a new proficiency test in either English or Irish.

Labour TD George Lawlor says this is just a distraction from the real problems at hand:

"People who've commited crimes in this country, serious crimes, are left without being deported. That's something he should be focusing on, the people who bring negatives to the country, not the positives that those who seek citizenship are doing.

"I think it's just optics and it's typical of Jim O'Callaghan to spin".

Refugee and migrant organisations are warning that by making it so potential citizens would need to be resident for eight years could undermine integration, and leave people in limbo for years.

Deputy Lawlor says we're already too slow to process asylum claims at it is:

"That's not happening, it's taking years to process things when people who arrive in seeking asylum and it's either a yes or a no. If it's a no, a quick appeal and if that fails, you should not be permitted to remain in the country.

"In my view, this is just tinkering around the edges, making it look like they're doing something when in reality they're not."

Six organisations, including the Irish Refugee Council, say the measures would create new barriers for people already living, working and paying taxes here.

Chief Executive of the Irish Refugee Council, Nick Henderson, says the government's got it wrong.

"Citizenship is a crucial way for refugees and others to integrate. 

"There is an existing application process, it's very rigorous and we assist people going through that process.

"We believe that extending the time that people must wait is just disproportionate and wrong."

That report was funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.