ONE of Dublin's main maternity hospitals has confirmed reports that a number of women from Africa and the Middle East have given birth in Irish hospitals so that their children can receive Irish citizenship.
A child born in an Irish hospital is automatically entitled to Irish citizenship and is allowed free movement throughout the EU. It has been the practice since 1989 for parents of any child born in Ireland to be granted an annual resident's visa, which tends to be renewed.
The Master of the Rotunda Hospital, Dr Peter McKenna, told The Irish Times: "Yes, we have dealt with cases of this nature. A number of Middle Eastern and African women have told us they were living in Ireland, but later we found these addresses to be spurious."
He said that he had referred the matter to the Department of Justice, which oversees the granting of citizenship, but it had referred him to the Department of Foreign Affairs. "When we have tried to contact these women later, they are usually gone", he added.
Dr McKenna said that midwives in the Rotunda had brought the matter to his attention when they first noticed the frequency of births involving non nationals.
Other maternity hospitals said that they had not noticed any particular "trend" of non nationals giving birth using false addresses.
Dr McKenna said that the practice had been occurring with "increasing frequency" in recent months. He believed that the Rotunda was the favoured hospital of such women because of its proximity to Dublin Airport and the large number of non EU nationals who were working there.
The Department of Justice said that it did not compile figures on how many citizenships were awarded to children whose parents were non nationals. A spokeswoman said that it was possible for individuals awaiting a resident's visa in the UK to travel to Ireland without any impediment and give birth.
Following a Supreme Court ruling in 1989, non EU nationals who are parents to a child born in Ireland are entitled to a resident's visa. The Department of Enterprise and Employment recognises this as "a right to work".
Dr McKenna said that the more well off women paid the hospital charges themselves, while others availed of public treatment. He emphasised that questions of citizenship were not his area of authority. "We just deliver the babies of the women who come to us. Where they have come from is not our business.