Around a dozen State-funded activist organisations have banded together to stage a protest outside Leinster House later this week against the Government’s proposed tighter citizenship rules.
The Government plans to increase the residency requirements, introduce language tests, and income thresholds to make it harder to receive naturalised citizenship and promote integration.
In emails sent to supporters ahead of a demonstration scheduled for November 3rd, this Tuesday, Migrant Rights Centre Ireland director Neil Bruton claimed that the Government’s proposals to tighten naturalisation rules are “regressive” and would harm migrant workers.
“The Department of Justice is proposing to increase residency requirements from 5 to 8 years, deny citizenship to people who have accessed social supports and introduce a salary threshold that would exclude many low-paid workers,” Bruton said.
“These changes are unfair, unjustified and would make citizenship harder for thousands of people who have built their lives in Ireland.
“We are saying no. And we are taking that message directly to Leinster House.
“Please share this with friends, family, colleagues and anyone who believes citizenship should remain fair and accessible.”
In a follow-up email confirming the “Keep Citizenship Fair” protest outside Leinster House, Bruton reiterated his objections to the proposed measures.
He urged supporters to attend the demonstration outside the Kildare Street entrance of Leinster House.
“Come along on Tuesday, even if you can only stay for part of the hour,” he wrote.
“Every person adds to our voice. If you can, bring a friend, colleague or family member with you. If you can’t make it in person, please share this email and our social media posts so as many people as possible know about it.
“Show up. Stand together. Make noise.”
The upcoming demonstration brings together a coalition of migrant-focused activist groups, almost all of which are funded by the Government.
Alongside the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, the participating groups include the Irish Refugee Council, Doras, the Immigrant Council of Ireland, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Nasc, AkiDwA, the Hope & Courage Collective, the Irish Network Against Racism, Open Doors, Cultur Migrants Centre, and the Africa Centre.
With the sole exception of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, every organisation involved in the protest receives substantial Government funding.
Last year, the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland in particular received €560,871 from various Government departments and State agencies, including the Department of Equality and the Department of Justice, which is the department proposing the citizenship reforms.
The organisation has also historically received financial backing from Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros’ Open Societies Foundation in recent years.
The protest comes as the Government prepares legislation to tighten naturalisation rules.
As reported by Gript in September, 2026, State officials are currently drafting laws that could extend the mandatory residency period from five to eight years and introduce a requirement for applicants to pass a language examination.
Speaking to Gript, Tánaiste Simon Harris acknowledged the planned legislative changes, insisting that the standards required for obtaining citizenship should remain high.
The Fine Gael Tánaiste maintained that becoming an Irish citizen is a privilege that carries responsibilities.
“It’s something that needs to be earned,” Harris said.
“It’s something that always needs to be respected.”
Harris added that basic language skills are essential for new arrivals seeking to integrate into the community.
“Things like language help with integration,” he continued.
“Of course they do. And you want people to be able to come to a country, economically contribute to a country, integrate into a country, feel that that country is their home. And a lack of language would of course be a barrier to that.”
Sinn Féin has also called for stricter integration requirements for foreign nationals seeking citizenship.
Cavan-Monaghan TD Matt Carthy, who is Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, said the naturalisation system needs to be treated with greater seriousness.
Carthy argued that the application process must properly reflect a genuine commitment to Irish society.
“Citizenship and naturalisation should be treated with the seriousness they deserve,” Carthy said.
“Becoming an Irish citizen is a significant step and that is why the laws and rules on citizenship must reflect that. As the number of people seeking Irish citizenship has grown in recent years, it is appropriate that we examine whether the current system is fit for purpose and whether it properly supports those who make a genuine commitment to Ireland and to making this country their home.”
Carthy proposed mandating language competence in either Irish or English, alongside statutory guidelines for good character.
“Reasonable language requirements should form part of the process, with applicants demonstrating competence in either Irish or English,” he noted.
“Particular recognition should be given to those who acquire proficiency in the Irish language. A citizenship test could also be part of this framework, assessing applicants’ understanding of Ireland. There should also be clear statutory guidelines underpinning the good-character requirement.
“Applicants should demonstrate compliance with immigration conditions and tax obligations, respect for the laws of the State, and an absence of serious or persistent criminal offending, whether in Ireland or abroad.”
SF calls for “civic integration” tests for Irish citizenship
Calls for civic and language testing have also come from other opposition parties, with the Labour Party including proposals for mandatory language and civics tests for foreign naturalised citizenship applicants in its 2024 general election manifesto.
Labour’s 2024 manifesto urged citizenship language & civics test