New Irish citizens enjoy ‘proud’ moment at ceremony

A HISTORIC ceremony was held for new Irish citizens as Justice Minister Alan Shatter pledged to speed up the citizenship process for emigrants.

Citizens from 24 countries across five continents took part in the formal ceremony yesterday, where the 73 new Irish citizens pledged loyalty to the state and were presented with certificates of naturalisation.

Mr Shatter called the event “fantastic” and said that in future all granting of citizenships would take place in similar style ceremonies.

He also vowed that the average 25-month waiting time for processing and deciding on citizenship applications would be reduced down to just six months by next spring.

“The granting of citizenship to a person who has come to our country from a foreign land is quite clearly a major event in his or her life,” he told attendees.

Retired High Court Judge Bryan McMahon presided over the event, telling participants that their declaration was a pledge of fidelity to the state.

“This represents your commitment to uphold and respect the rights, freedoms and equalities enjoyed by citizens of this nation and the principles of tolerance and respect for other people’s beliefs, viewpoints that many men and women have fought and died for.”

Citizens who received certificates yesterday were from across the globe including from Pakistan, the Philippines, South Africa, Tajikistan, Nepal, Cuba and New Zealand among countries.

Olga Sergina, 29, originally from, Russia, said she was delighted at finally receiving her Irish citizenship after having working in Ireland since 2002.

She said she had applied for her citizenship in October 2006, after falling in love with her partner Robert Byrne some years earlier.

“I had to be here 60 complete months staying in the country in employment and then I could apply.”

The sports company secretary said that up until now, those receiving their citizenship had to appear in court alongside criminals when collecting their certificates.

“I had a tear in my eye a couple of times. I feel very honoured.”

Hardip Singh, 33, and his wife Jatinda, 27, originally from Punjab, India, explained their delight at receiving their citizenship. The couple have twins, two-and-a-half-years-old, who were also born here.

“We’ve been living here nine-and-a-half years, I feel very happy,” said Mr Singh, who works as a carpenter.”

Mr Shatter yesterday said more than 6,000 citizenship applications had been dealt with over the last three months, more than the whole amount processed last year.

He said that the 25-month wait was “entirely inappropriate”.