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Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary has rejected calls for mandatory language and cultural integration tests for citizenship, insisting that the accolade is a “much broader thing than just language.”
Speaking in an interview with Gript this week, the Fianna Fáil Minister refused to concede that tighter requirements are needed following the conviction of Riad Bouchaker for the Parnell Square attack.
The case has sparked debate after it emerged that Bouchaker – originally of Algerian extraction – had lived in Ireland for over 20 years but still required a French-Arabic interpreter in court, having previously told a hearing that “your country is shit” and uttering anti-Irish slurs prior to the attack, which was sparked by a social welfare dispute.
Despite this fact, he was previously granted Irish citizenship.
When asked directly if there needs to be a higher level of requirement for naturalised citizenship in light of an individual living in the country for decades without meaningfully integrating, Calleary defended the current process.
“No, I think we have had huge ceremonies over the last number of years,” Calleary said.
“And we’ve seen some recently of citizenship, and people achieving citizenship is something people work very hard for.”
He argued that the public focus should remain on the heroism displayed during the incident, claiming that members of the immigrant community put themselves in danger to save lives.
“I’d also point out in terms of the reaction on the day, the people that laid down, put themselves in danger to save people, there were many immigrants in that as well,” he said.
“There were many immigrants in terms of the community, the medical community that responded and they went to save the girl on the day. So, I am not commenting on the specifics, I haven’t had access to the court transcripts. But, you know, when you look at the reaction, the reaction of heroism on the day from people who went to save people, who went to assist, that includes everybody, lots of immigrants as well. I think that’s what we should focus on.”
The Minister strongly disputed the idea that a lack of English proficiency should bar someone from citizenship, stating that economic and societal contributions must be weighed alongside communication skills.
“Language is only one aspect of citizenship,” Calleary said.
“Citizenship is a much broader thing than just language. You know, court cases always make provision for people in terms of being able to defend themselves and in terms of being able to prosecute, and implement the law. Language is only one part of citizenship.
“Contribution to society, contribution to the economy, are other parts as well. So, I think our citizenship rules are strict, as you know. Minister O’Callaghan has introduced tighter rules in relation to immigration that are taking effect now, and we’ve seen over the last couple of weeks since they were beginning to implement it, a change. So, I think, look at the celebrations that we see of citizenship in Killarney every number of months.”
When pressed on whether a person has truly integrated into the fabric of society if they cannot communicate with those around them despite living in Ireland for decades, Calleary accused Gript of isolating a single case.
“I think it’s very unfair for you to take out one case. Don’t isolate one case…Don’t do that.,” he said.
“And most people have very good English,” adding that many immigrants were also embracing the Irish language as well.
Junior Minister Jerry Buttimer, who also took part in the exchange, intervened to defend the record of the government in promoting inclusivity.
“And it also illustrates the importance of the work that we’re doing on our department about building integration, building inclusivity, and you’ll be welcome to join us any day and our visits to see what we’re doing,” Buttimer said.
The comments stand in contrast to an intervention by an Aontú TD, who argued on the Leinster House plinth earlier in the week that the onus must be placed strictly on the applicant to integrate and learn the language.
Mayo TD Paul Lawless said it was incredible that an individual could live in Ireland for up to 30 years on social welfare without integrating.
“I think it’s incredible that a person can be living here, you know, 20, 30 years, living on social welfare, and not be integrated into society, not speak the language,” Lawless said.
“So we do need a conversation about this and we do need a broader discussion on citizenship, and the onus should be on the individual. For any person coming to this country seeking citizenship, I think it should be the onus on that person to actually integrate, to speak the language, and integrate into society.”
Speaking during the same press exchange earlier in the week, the leader of Aontú stated that the current system is failing to ensure that newcomers enter the mainstream of Irish society.
Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín said that his party wants to prevent the formation of unintegrated communities.
“We don’t want a system where we have individuals who, because of language or cultural attributes, for example, are not integrated into the mainstream of Irish society,” Tóibín said.
The growing debate surrounding citizenship requirements comes as Calleary remains one of the main frontrunners when Fianna Fáil Parliamentary party members are polled on who they would like to succeed Micheál Martin as party leader.
The refusal to commit to stricter tests matches previous rhetoric from within the government, after the Fianna Fáil Justice Minister also declined to say whether Ireland’s citizenship rules should be tightened during an exchange with Gript earlier this year.
Fianna Fáil Minister Jim O’Callaghan acknowledged at the time that the country’s naturalisation system is “on the more liberal side” compared to other European states, but remained evasive on specific reforms.
Ireland’s current citizenship rules generally require applicants for naturalisation to have lived legally in the State for five years out of the previous nine, including one year of continuous residence immediately before applying. This framework remains unchanged even as several European countries have moved this year to tighten citizenship requirements.
Sweden’s government announced proposals earlier this year to increase residency requirements and introduce stricter tests for applicants, while Portugal has increased its residency requirement for citizenship from five to ten years.
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