Foreign recruits to An Garda Síochána will automatically gain the right to become Irish citizens, following Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Michael McDowell's decision to accept a Fine Gael proposal.
Under the legislation, put forward by Senator Brian Hayes, non-Irish recruits would be able to qualify for citizenship "as a matter of right" once they are fully commissioned.
Meanwhile, it has emerged that just eight of 2,000 foreign nationals who applied to join An Garda Síochána have to date passed the exam and interview process. The figures, released to The Irish Times by the Department of Justice, show that of the 2,000 applicants, 193 passed the aptitude test and 52 of these have to date been called to interview.
The Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Amendment) (An Garda Síochána) Bill 2006 was published in the Seanad last week as a Private Members' Bill by the Dublin South West-based Senator Hayes. "Anyone who applies to join An Garda Síochána must pass through rigorous security checks before they are allowed to join as a recruit," he told The Irish Times.
"This should be sufficient for assessing the suitability of non-nationals to claim citizenship. If they are deemed fit to join the Garda, they should also be deemed fit to become an Irish citizen.
"I believe that giving an automatic right to Irish citizenship to non-national members of An Garda Síochána is a very important principle in including those new officers as fully-fledged citizens of this Republic.This measure would also highlight the importance that Irish society places on new arrivals to this country who have come to live, work and prosper in Ireland."
The Minister said he was willing to accept Senator Hayes' Bill, though an official cautioned that "some tweaking" would have to be done during its passage through the Oireachtas. "I am anxious that marked progress be achieved in ethnic recruitment to An Garda Síochána. It's absolutely essential for the future of policing in Ireland that An Garda Síochána is representative of the entire population," said Mr McDowell.
Of the 52 foreign nationals called for interview, 12 did not turn up. Eighteen passed the interview, but 10 of the 18 did not have the sufficient educational standard required. This has left just eight successful candidates who will now undergo medical and physical competency tests before taking up places at Templemore training college.
A number of the eight are believed to be English. There is also one female Chinese national in the final eight.
Yesterday a spokeswoman for the Department of Justice said a further 141 foreign nationals will be called to interview between now and the end of October.