Activists and rights groups criticise proposed language test for Irish citizenship

A number of activists and organisations have criticised the proposed language test for Irish citizenship.

The new rules include a language test in English or Irish.

The new requirements also include the condition that a person must be a resident in Ireland for 8 years before seeking citizenship, this is an increase from the current five years. Aspiring citizens will also have to prove they are economically self-sufficient.

The Irish Refugee Council have released a joint statement by Doras, Immigrant Council of Ireland, Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, Nasc, AkiDwA, and the Migrant and Refugee Rights Centre. The statement explains how the new citizenship rules "risk creating permanent exclusion."

"There are no general language requirements for someone to obtain a work visa or employment permit in Ireland," a spokesperson said on their Instagram.

"So, effectively, we are saying that whatever level of English you have is good enough to work, study, pay taxes and participate in Irish society, but it's not good enough to become a citizen, have the right to vote and have a more stable immigration status."

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Irish Refugee Council (@irishrefugeecouncil)

People Before Profit have criticised the government's decision to test people's Irish as part of new citizenship rules.

"The Irish language is a cultural treasure that must be nurtured and promoted through proper supports and funding, not used as a political football," the party wrote on their Instagram.

Activist and musician Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, criticised the government's actions in a post on X.

"Government ran a presidential candidate in Heather Humphreys who could not speak Irish, and who, by the way, also used to be Minister for the Gaeltacht," he wrote in the post.

"Now they want to introduce an Irish language test for citizenship. Is mór an náire iad!"

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by People Before Profit (@people_before_profit)

Author Naoise Dolan shared a post on Instagram detailing her thoughts on the new language requirement.

"I, as an Irish speaker, tried to exercise my language rights when I was arrested at a Palestine protest last week. The guard (that) arrested me didn't speak Irish and tried to pressure me to just speak English, threatening that I'd be held much longer if I didn't," she said in her statement.

"This proposed new requirement will do nothing for the language. It is a racist dog whistle from people who patently, if you look at their policies, do not give an atomically tiny fuck about Irish."

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Naoise Dolan (@naoisedolan)

Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan, will bring forward plans to the Cabinet this week for the new citizenship requirements, overhauling Ireland's current naturalisation system.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin spoke about the new citizenship proposals at the Fianna Fáil think-in, in Tullamore, Co. Offaly.

"On the citizenship proposals, this is bringing us more in line with other European Union member states," he said.