THE Government has approved the drafting of a Bill to put the sale of passports on a statutory footing. However, the proposed Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill is not expected to pass through the Oireachtas before the general election.
Controversy over the passports-for-sale affair erupted in 1994 when it was revealed that citizenship had been granted to two members of the Masri family after a £1.1 million investment in the family business of the then Taoiseach, Mr Albert Reynolds.
The Bill will allow the Minister for Justice to bring forward regulations which will set out the criteria for applications for naturalisation in return for investment. It will also enable the Minister for Justice to make an annual report to the Oireachtas on the operation of the statutory scheme.
Under a scheme approved by the Government in 1994, an interdepartmental advisory group assesses all applications for naturalisation based on investment in the Republic. Last year, 23 applications were processed and 11 people were naturalised.
The Minister, Mrs Owen, told the Dail last month, however, that following a Government decision in September 1996 no new applications were being accepted by her Department pending the enactment of legislation.
It is understood that the Bill will be based largely on the existing criteria which demand that the net level of investment must be at least £1 million per applicant. Ordinarily, naturalisation is for life and the duration of investment should be at least five years, according to the guidelines.
The number of jobs created or maintained must be readily quantifiable and arise from the investment only. Police certificates of character must also be provided by the authorities in the country, of origin.