THE GOVERNMENT has said it plans to introduce formal citizenship ceremonies shortly following the first successful pilot event in Dublin yesterday when 73 people took oaths of fidelity to the nation.
Minister for Justice Alan Shatter said Irish citizenship was not granted lightly and it was right that its granting by the State was marked by a “sense of occasion” that underscored its importance.
He said the Government would clear a huge backlog in citizenship applications by next spring, when he said applicants should not have to wait more than six months.
Currently some 14,000 applicants for citizenship are waiting more than six months to have their applications processed.
“You have waited a long time – too long in many cases. You came to our country and chose to live among us; we welcome you and we hope that you will continue to contribute to our communities,” said Mr Shatter.
However, he rejected calls by some groups to set up an independent tribunal where people denied citizenship could appeal the decision by the State.
He said awarding citizenship to a person was ultimately an act of sovereignty exercised on behalf of the State through the Minister for Justice. “I don’t believe we need an appeals system in the context of citizenship,” said Mr Shatter.
Non-governmental organisations such as the Immigrant Council of Ireland and the Integration Centre have raised concerns that some applicants have been refused citizenship for trivial reasons such as traffic offences.
“I can assure you that no one is going to be refused because they get a parking ticket,” said Mr Shatter, who criticised the previous government for its failure to reform the citizenship system.
“Hopefully we are now approaching the issue in a more comprehensive and considered manner,” he said.
At the citizenship ceremony in Dublin Castle some 73 applicants from 24 countries across five continents took oaths of fidelity and received their certificates of naturalisation to become Irish citizens.
Recently retired High Court judge Bryan McMahon administered the oaths to the applicants for citizenship, saying it was a singular honour to do so.
“This represents your commitment to uphold and respect the rights, freedom and equality enjoyed by the citizens of this nation and the principles of tolerance and respect for other people’s beliefs – viewpoints that many men and woman have fought for and died for,” he said.
The Oath: What it says
Irish oath of fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the State
I,...........(name in full)
of................................................................................................................................... having applied to the Minister
for Justice and Equality for a certificate of naturalisation, hereby solemnly declare my fidelity to the Irish nation and my loyalty to the State.
Citzenship: how it works in other countries
BRITAIN
Introduced citizenship tests in 2005 to test whether applicants have “sufficient knowledge of life in the United Kingdom”. The pass rate in 2009 was 70 per cent. Ceremonies are arranged by local authorities, where citizenship applicants must stand for the national anthem and swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen.
CANADA
Anyone over 14 years of age must attend a ceremony and take an oath to “bear true allegiance to her majesty Queen Elizabeth the second” and “faithfully observe the laws of Canada and fulfil my duties as a Canadian citizen”.
The ceremonies are often held by community groups and oaths can be taken on a holy book. A citizenship test, which questions an applicant’s knowledge of Canada and either English or French, is mandatory. Anyone who fails the test must appear at an interview.
USA
Applicants for citizenship must answer six out of 10 questions correctly in a citizenship interview before they attend a formal ceremony. At a ceremony they pledge an oath of allegiance, declaring to “entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state”. It also commits applicants to “bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law”, although in some cases this particular clause can be removed.
AUSTRALIA
A citizenship test is mandatory in Australia with each applicant asked 20 questions drawn at random from a pool of questions.
Ceremonies are arranged by local councils within six months of an application for citizenship being approved. When they are held outdoors people are recommended to wear a hat and sunscreen. An applicant makes a pledge of commitment and “loyalty to Australia and its people, whose democratic beliefs I share”.
When the ceremony is completed each citizen is asked if they want to have their name put on the electoral roll to enable them to vote.