Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

samboal

Number of people obtaining citizenship doubles because their grandparent or parent is Irish

People can apply to the Foreign Birth Register if they have an Irish-born grandparent or their parent is an Irish citizen.

THE NUMBER OF people successfully obtaining citizenship by descent more than doubled in 2017, with over 17,836 people entered on the Foreign Births Register (FBR) to date.

Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) is the process whereby people with an Irish-born grandparent, or a parent who is an Irish citizen through FBR, adoption or naturalisation, can acquire Irish citizenship.

The overall number of applications for citizenship through FBR rose above 22,000 this year, with increases across all regions.

The biggest regional rise was seen in applications from people born in Great Britain, which grew by 95% on 2016.

To date, some 13,004 applications from Great Britain have been received, compared to just 6,639 last year.

There were also significant increases in the numbers of applicants from the United States (up 33%) and South Africa (up 30%).

The number of persons applying for the FBR has more than tripled in four years.

In 2016, just 8,212 new entries were added to the register, while the most the recent figures show that 17,836 people were added in 2017.

Official figures from the Passport Service also show that 20% of Irish passports issued in 2017 were for people in Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

Some 81,752 applying for an Irish passport were from Northern Ireland, while a total of 81,287 applications were made from Great Britain, an increase of over 28% compared to 2016.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney said the increase in passport applications from Northern Ireland and Great Britain is “undoubtedly partly linked to the ongoing process of the UK’s departure from the European Union, the increase is not solely due to Brexit”.

He said other factors such as increased mobility and population growth are also relevant.

“It is particularly notable that, of the over 80,000 applications from Great Britain this year, almost half were from persons born in Ireland and another approximately 37% were from Irish citizens born abroad to an Irish-born parent,” he said.

In order to deal with the increase workload, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has had to hire 240 temporary clerical officers to assist in the processing of passport applications.

Additional full-time staff have also been assigned both to the Passport Service and to the Foreign Births Registration unit.

Read: The Guinness Storehouse is still the most popular tourist attraction in Ireland>

Read: Status Yellow wind warning remains in place for seven counties>

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
68 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dylan.
    Favourite Dylan.
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2013, 1:26 PM

    As a young, Irish, aspiring writer, this kind of news is inspiring.

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Adam Power
    Favourite Adam Power
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2013, 2:25 PM

    Dylan can you call your antagonist Adam Power please?

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dylan.
    Favourite Dylan.
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2013, 3:02 PM

    How can a man with a JFK icon be an antagonist?

    9
    See 5 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Killian Lynch
    Favourite Killian Lynch
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2013, 3:23 PM

    Are you writing anything at the moment Dylan?

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dylan.
    Favourite Dylan.
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2013, 3:33 PM

    Poetry mostly, short stories occasionally.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Robin Pickering
    Favourite Robin Pickering
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2013, 4:00 PM

    If you write a super-successful series of books about a 6’5″ blue eyed, shaven-headed crime fighter, don’t let Tom Cruise play him in the movie version.

    If you do, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.

    Only kidding!

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Killian Lynch
    Favourite Killian Lynch
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2013, 5:42 PM

    Good stuff Dylan, best of luck with that.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dylan.
    Favourite Dylan.
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2013, 9:11 PM

    Thanks a lot.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Killjoy
    Favourite Killjoy
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2013, 12:56 PM

    I know the other two but could someone tell me about Donal Ryan? And whether it might be worth taking a look at his stuff?

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niamh Ní Dhonnchú
    Favourite Niamh Ní Dhonnchú
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2013, 1:05 PM
    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Mc Cabe
    Favourite Brian Mc Cabe
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2013, 1:52 PM

    That could be an episode of fair city

    11
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Caoimhe Mc G
    Favourite Caoimhe Mc G
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2013, 11:35 PM

    The spinning heart is a fantastic book. I read it in a day, couldn’t put down.. Thoroughly enjoyed it and would definitely recommend.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Frank O'Grady
    Favourite Frank O'Grady
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2013, 1:09 PM

    What!!! No Ross O’Carroll Kelly???

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute bedstuybosco
    Favourite bedstuybosco
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2013, 1:12 PM

    Donal Ryan’s book is Quality

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute June O'sullivan
    Favourite June O'sullivan
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2013, 2:59 PM

    I thought Donal Ryan’s book was excellent. Delighted it’s been nominated.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute PJ Walsh
    Favourite PJ Walsh
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2013, 2:56 PM

    The Testament of Mary is a cert.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute andrew
    Favourite andrew
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2013, 3:14 PM

    Tobin has a very good PR machine and a set of the best connections. But it never quite succeeds in filling the gap left by his fair to middling ability. His consistent attempts to link himself to Henry James through repeated assertion of some apparent equivalence of talent is becoming embarrassing

    Of the three Irish authors, McCann must have the best chance being a genuinely talented writer

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dessie Edmunds
    Favourite Dessie Edmunds
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2013, 8:38 PM

    Colm McCann is the greatest living Irish author. Those with doubts I direct you to his sublime novel Dancer

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Emmet Murray
    Favourite Emmet Murray
    Report
    Jul 23rd 2013, 7:52 PM

    Please excuse my ignorance. But is this not only for British Commonwealth authors??

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      News in 60 seconds