The Taoiseach has praised the contributions of immigrants who have chosen to become Irish citizens.
Addressing some of the 2,250 new Irish citizens from 110 countries who pledged their allegiance to the Irish State over two days at special ceremonies in Dublin recently, Taoiseach Enda Kenny also told them to make Ireland their proud home.
“As citizens of this country, you are coming ‘home’,” he said. “Today you begin to write your own chapters of Ireland’s history. Your story will become Ireland’s story.
“Since you arrived on these shores, you have enriched your communities, enhanced your workplaces, bringing new light, new depth, a new sense of imagining, to what it means to be a citizen of Ireland in the 21st century. ”
He continued: “This is the day we recognise your commitment. This is the day we welcome you with all your hopes, your dreams… all the devices of fate or fortune… that brought you to us. This is the day we honour you by making you a citizen of our Republic.”
The Taoiseach praised the Minister for Justice Alan Shatter for his efforts since the Fine Gael-Labour coalition came to power last year to bring order to the citizenship issue, especially the long waiting times.
“Last March, when this Government came to office, there was a backlog of around 22,000 applications awaiting decision; 17,000 of these had been waiting for six months or more,” he said.
“In fact, the average time was 25 months. This was unacceptable and completely out of step with other countries that people wishing to become Irish citizens should be required to wait so long. ”
Earlier at the ceremony, Minister Shatter reiterated his plans for the Department of Justice to decide on citizenship applications within six months of receiving applications from qualified applicants.
He said he expects “the current backlog will be dealt with in the next couple of months” and from there applicants would expect to be given a decision within six months.
Two new citizens from Bangladesh told Metro Éireann that it was a great day for their life in Ireland.
“I feel very good now because I was actually waiting a long time,” said Mostafa Ali, who has been living here for 10 years but applied for citizenship in 2008.
His friend Didarul Alom added that they can now “travel to everywhere”, adding: “I am so happy.”
About 16,000 naturalisation applications were granted by Department of Justice in 2011, out of which “over 14,000 immigrants had their application for a certificate of naturalisation approved”. Filipinos, Nigerians, Indians, Bangladeshis and South Africans were the top five nationalities granted citizenship in 2011, and they represent about 50 per cent of total successful applicants.
The department is also planning to introduce language and civics exam for new citizens in the coming months.
The oath of allegiance at Cathal Brugha Barracks was administered by Bryan McMahon, a retired Justice of the High Court in the presence of many special guests including Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar, Army acting General Officer Commanding John Joe O’Reilly and Commandant Adrian Jacobs.
