Campaigns 
Citizenship, Residence and Belonging
Friday, 03 September 2010
ICI Senior Solicitor - and author of ICI's latest publication on citizenship - Catherine Cosgrave speaking at the launch of 'Living in Limbo: Migrants Experiences of Applying for Naturalisation in Ireland' on Tuesday May 10, 2011. Also in the picture (from left) are ICI Founder Sr. Stanislaus Kennedy and Chair of the event Fiach MacConghail. You can download a copy of the publication, here.
The ICI believes that immigration is a permanent and positive reality in Ireland and has been lobbying the Government to put in place integrated, transparent and rights-based immigration and integration laws and policies that reflect this reality. Questions from migrants about becoming an Irish citizen or obtaining a more permanent immigration status are becoming an increasing proportion of the queries dealt with by our Information and Referral Service and more of our work deals with refusals of these applications.
We believe that integration is intrinsically linked to immigration status and access to family life. How can someone feel that they are a valued and contributing member of their community if they have no sense of security about how long they can remain in the country and if their family members are not permitted to reside in Ireland? (See our page on family reunification)
The ICI believes that migrants who have lived in Ireland for a reasonable period of time should have the right to become permanent residents or Irish citizens and to enjoy the same security, rights and entitlements as Irish and EU citizens living in this country.
Currently, migrants do not have an entitlement to long-term residency or citizenship. The success or failure of their applications is at the discretion of the Minister for Justice and Law Reform.
Migrants have no right of appeal against a decision to refuse an application.
Many migrants have expressed concern about the length of time the Government takes to process their applications. The Government regularly takes two years to process these applications and, sometimes, far longer.
The ICI has been highlighting the difficulties faced by migrants applying for citizenship and long-term residency. In comparison to other countries, Ireland’s process is extremely lengthy, the fees are very high and the rate of approval of applications received is very low.
We advocate that, at a minimum, Ireland should introduce long-term residency in the same manner as provided for by the EU “Long-Term Residents’ Directive” and that people who meet reasonable set criteria should have an entitlement to this status.
More information about long-term residence and citizenship requirements can be found on our Information for Migrants page on this website.
Publication: Living in Limbo: Migrants Experiences of Applying for Naturalisation in Ireland, 2011
Briefing Paper: Immigration and children and young people, November 2010
Submission: The Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2010 - a critical overview, September 2010
Media Release: Citizenship processes in need of overhaul: Immigrant Council of Ireland - Thursday, May 7, 2009
Briefing Submission to Select Committee on Finance and the Public Service:Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008 - March 2009
Publication: Voices of Immigrants - The Challenges of Inclusion, 2004
Publication: Labour Migration Into Ireland - Study and Recommendations on Employment Permits, Working Conditions, Family Reunification and the Integration of Migrant Workers in Ireland, 2003