Fidelity and loyalty oath ends the waiting

New Irish: Almost 250 applicants take last big step on the road to citizenship

ALMOST 250 people from four continents gathered in Dublin yesterday to declare fidelity and loyalty to the State, the last big step on the road to Irish citizenship.

Participants came from a wide range of nationalities, from Romanian to Filipino, Chinese to Bangladeshi. Within weeks, once fees are paid and outstanding documents lodged, all will become Irish citizens.

The newest of “new Irish” are a diverse mix of skin colours and native tongues, to judge from the crowds who gathered in a Dublin hotel to complete the final paperwork before going on to swear an oath in the District Court. So far this year, people from 129 different nationalities have received certificates of naturalisation.

For most, this upbeat occasion marked the end of years of bureaucracy and waiting, but the sense of gratitude was palpable. Minister of State for Integration Conor Lenihan was equally delighted as he pressed the flesh with the freshest batch of potential new voters.

“This is a big step and is a great indicator of the participant’s commitment to the country we all live in. Becoming a fully-fledged citizen is a key indicator of integration and it shows a commitment to further

integrate.”

Richard Butler’s journey to Ireland started 11 years ago, on the back of a truck in Zimbabwe, where he met fellow hitcher Claire O’Regan. Romance blossomed, the South African landscape architect uprooted to Dublin and the couple married and now live in East Wall.

Richard had to wait five years before he could apply for naturalisation, and another two years while his application was processed. “Paperwork, lots of paperwork,” he says, when asked to describe what was involved.

As a South African, he is entitled to hold dual citizenship but has good practical reasons for adding an Irish passport to his original one.

“It makes it easier for me to travel. And now I can vote; I feel I know enough about this country and its politics to do so.”

Citizenship also offers the promise of greater job security. Although Butler held a five-year work permit, such documents still tie a person to the employer. “Basically, this means no more long queues on cold nights to get your visa renewed.”

What does it mean to be Irish? “Apart from the slagging from friends, I don’t know. I’m looking forward to finding out.”

Twenty-year-old business student Xiaoyu Sun, originally from Beijing, says getting Irish citizenship will be “really useful. I’ll be able to vote, for example.” His mother has already gained citizenship and he believes it will simplify matters greatly.

Gary, a hospital nurse from the Philippines, is already beginning to worry about the economic situation. “I’d like to stay but my family needs a security blanket and it might be necessary to go somewhere else.” His wife, a dentist, isn’t able to practise in Ireland and could be refused citizenship because she is not working, he says. Like Butler, Gary cannot think of a bad thing about Ireland; the best thing is “the people, especially at work”.

According to Gerry O’Donnell of the Department of Justice, yesterday’s ceremony, and a similar one attended by 240 applicants last week, were designed to reduce the backlog that had built up. Those naturalised so far this year include 301 Nigerians, 192 Pakistanis, 149 Indians and 148 Russians.

Ironically, as the Minister admits, getting citizenship means some people are more likely to leave. “It does pose a dilemma. Citizenship means some will go to other countries with bigger labour markets or greater concentrations of people from their own home country.”

This trend has been particularly noticeable with refugees, he says, but only 6 per cent of those awarded certificates of naturalisation so far come via the asylum-seeker route.

Next year, Lenihan intends to introduce English language and other tests for aspirant citizens and even some applicants for work permits. “We’re also looking at more formal and celebratory occasions to be held all over the country.”