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Tánaiste Simon Harris has defended his proposal to consider an English language requirement for Irish citizenship, saying language is central to integration and insisting citizenship should be “earned” with a “high bar”.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1 this week, the Fine Gael Minister stood over comments he made last week suggesting there was “some merit” in considering language proficiency as part of the naturalisation process.
Harris had originally been responding to a question by Gript.
Speaking to RTÉ’s David McCullagh, Harris said the proposal should be viewed as “a positive, not a negative” and argued that speaking the language of a country is an important part of integration.
Harris rejected the suggestion that his earlier comments had been made off the cuff.
“It certainly wasn’t an idle comment,” he said.
“I don’t make idle comments. I got asked a question at Intel by a journalist and I endeavoured to answer the question, and I answered it in real time. And I think there is some merit in it.
“But let me say this, it’s a positive, not a negative. I mean, a key part of integration in any country has been able to speak the language.”
He added: “…It’s very hard to see how people can integrate into a country without being able to speak the language of the country.”
During the interview, McCullagh noted that examining language and civics tests for citizenship applicants had already formed part of the Government’s Migrant Integration Strategy in 2017, asking why it had taken so long to revisit the issue.
State was looking into stricter citizenship requirements in 2020
Harris said successive governments had instead invested heavily in English language classes, while adding that Integration Minister Colm Brophy is now reviewing the rules surrounding Irish citizenship.
He also argued that citizenship should carry significant requirements.
“Citizenship is not something, you know, that falls from the sky,” he said.
“It is something that has to be earned. To become an Irish citizen, to become a citizen of any country, there should always be a high bar to it. But I believe there is in Ireland.
“But I do think when I was asked an honest question about language, I mean, language is a key part of integration.”
Asked why Ireland does not currently require applicants to demonstrate language proficiency, Harris said his understanding was that the State had chosen to prioritise access to language classes over making such tests a legal requirement.
He suggested introducing a requirement could provide greater clarity, while also saying he was unsure how often language difficulties actually arose because applicants already spend a lengthy period living in Ireland before qualifying for citizenship.
“Would it help in making it a bit clearer?” Harris said.
“I think it probably would. Does it arise in many occasions? I’m not quite convinced it does, David, for the reasons that I’m outlining in terms of the length of time you have to be in the country.”
The interview also turned to immigration more broadly, with McCullagh asking whether Harris had deliberately adopted tougher language on migration in recent weeks.
Harris said migration remained essential to Ireland, while arguing that high levels of inward migration had created challenges during a period of housing shortages and pressure on public services.
He also said international protection should not become a route for economic migration and suggested student visa arrangements should also be examined.
“So migration is a really good thing,” he said.
“The country would fall over without it. The health service would fall over without it. The economy would be in trouble without it… However, it is also a statement of fact to say that if your population very rapidly increases at a time when you have real constraint in housing supply and the likes, that that does pose challenges.
“…We have legal obligations around international protection, I get that, but we need to make sure that international protection is never seen as a gateway for economic migration.”
The renewed discussion follows the conviction of Parnell Square attacker Riad Bouchaker, whose Irish citizenship prompted fresh debate over the requirements for naturalised citizenship.
As reported by Gript yesterday, Government strategy documents show the State was actively examining the introduction of language and civics tests for citizenship applicants as recently as 2020 under the Migrant Integration Strategy 2017-2020.
The strategy stated that the introduction of civics and language tests “will be examined” and proposed research into international best practice before any recommendation was made.
Last week, Gript reported that Fianna Fáil TD Willie O’Dea supported the introduction of an English language proficiency requirement after Harris first said there was “some merit” in considering the proposal.
FF TD calls for language proficiency test for Irish citizenship
Earlier this year, Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan confirmed that his Department had previously examined language requirements for citizenship but said concerns had been raised about the administrative burden involved in testing applicants.
Minister evasive on whether Irish citizenship should be tightened
Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Social Protection Minister Darragh Calleary appeared less supportive of introducing such a requirement when asked previously.
Ireland currently does not require applicants for naturalised citizenship to pass either a language proficiency test or a civics examination. Applicants must generally satisfy residency requirements and generally be “of good character” before citizenship can be granted.
Ireland is the only European Union member state that does not require applicants for naturalised citizenship to demonstrate language proficiency before becoming citizens.
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