2389. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his views on whether Ireland is an outlier in the EU in terms of the absence of a language requirement for people seeking naturalised Irish citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58350/26]

2124. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if the Government will revisit its Migrant Integration Strategy 2017-2020; to commission the Irish naturalisation and immigration service to carry out a piece of research to include a review of civics and language testing; to include a mapping exercise on international activity and best practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58427/26]

2125. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason Ireland is the only European Union member state that does not require applicants for naturalised citizenship to demonstrate language proficiency or undergo a civics examination before becoming citizens; if he will consider such proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58428/26]

2126. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to examine the insertion of a definition of "good character" in terms of Ireland's naturalisation process, which relies on residency requirements and an assessment of "good character"; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58429/26]

2387. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his views on whether, if Ireland wants a sustainable immigration system that retains public confidence, policymakers must be prepared to have an honest conversation about immigration, integration, and citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58345/26]

2388. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if the recent revelation that a person (details supplied) convicted over the 2023 Parnell Square stabbing attack, had been granted Irish citizenship despite reportedly not speaking English or Irish and having no work history in Ireland after 25 years, should prompt a wider national debate about immigration, integration and the criteria for Irish citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58347/26]

2390. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if the Government will introduce language and civics tests for people seeking naturalised Irish citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58352/26]

2391. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if the Government will revisit its Migrant Integration Strategy 2017-2020, and commission the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) to carry out a piece of research to include a review of civics and language testing, and a mapping exercise on international activity and best practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58353/26]

2395. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason Ireland is the only European Union member state that does not require applicants for naturalised citizenship to demonstrate language proficiency or undergo a civics examination before becoming citizens; if he will consider such proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58430/26]

2396. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department will consider placing more emphasis on expectations such as working, contributing to society, learning the language and integrating into Irish life at citizenship ceremonies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58431/26]

2397. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to examine the insertion of a definition of "good character" in terms of Ireland's naturalisation process, which relies on residency requirements and an assessment of "good character" [58432/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2389, 2124, 2125, 2126, 2387, 2388, 2390, 2391, 2395, 2396 and 2397 together.

The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act, including the requirement that applicants satisfy the good character criterion under Section 15.

As part of a naturalisation application, each applicant is required to detail any offences, regardless of where an incident occurred, or how long ago, including “spent” convictions.

All adult applicants must also undertake Garda vetting. As part of the good character assessment, An Garda Síochána is requested to make enquiries into the applicant’s background, the detail and extent of which is a matter for An Garda Síochána.

Last November I secured Government approval to introduce new policies and legislative changes to strengthen Ireland’s migration and asylum system to ensure it is rules-based, efficient and more aligned with EU Member States.

As part of this my Department is reviewing aspects of Ireland’s citizenship legislation and developing proposed amendments. This includes examining the possibility of language and civics testing as a requirement for naturalisation and reviewing research in this area that the Department commissioned from the Economic and Social Research Institute.

My Department is committed to supporting evidence-informed policymaking. My Department has also supported public information programmes on migration and integration, including a national digital, social media and community information campaign on migration in 2024, and in 2026, supporting a series of community engagement sessions in each Local Authority area to hear community stakeholders' and service providers' experience of migration and integration. These meetings are ongoing at this time.

This work will also be supported by the forthcoming National Migration and Integration Strategy, which will provide a long-term framework to guide Ireland's approach to migration and integration, based on evidence, collaboration across Government, and engagement with stakeholders.

To that end, a Strategic Migration Policy Group (SMPG) was established in December 2024 to support that work which now consists of ten Government Departments, meeting at senior official level.

The key objective of the Strategy and the SMPG is to develop a whole-of-government approach to migration policy that is coherent across Departments and responsive in seeking to address Ireland’s current and future demographic, economic and social policy needs.