Justice minister reinstates powers to revoke Irish citizenship in serious cases

Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan confirmed he signed an order giving effect to the change, after more than four years where no revocations were possible. Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

The Government has reinstated powers to revoke naturalized Irish citizenship in serious cases.

Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan confirmed he signed an order giving effect to the change, after more than four years where no revocations were possible.

A Supreme Court decision in 2021 found that there was a lack of safeguards in the previous process and that revoking citizenship under former laws was unconstitutional.

This essentially has prevented any citizenship revocation processes from taking place since.

However, legislation passed in 2024 made a number of changes to the system to address the Supreme Court ruling.

The new changes will see individuals who have their citizenship revoked given 28 days to make representations to the Justice Minister over their citizenship. After this, individuals will have 14 days to request a further inquiry into the decision.

These inquiries will see an independent committee, chaired by a retired judge from either the Circuit, High Court, Court of Appeal or Supreme Court, assess appeals.

These committees will also have two ordinary members, who are appointed by the Justice Minister.

In a statement, Mr O’Callaghan said the powers of citizenship revocation for naturalized citizens are “important and necessary”.

“Where citizenship has been obtained fraudulently or when an individual poses a serious risk or threat to the State, it is essential that the power to remove the citizenship which has been granted to them is there,” Mr O’Callaghan said.

The order is not designed to disadvantage or be punitive against naturalised Irish citizens.

"It does, however, provide repercussions and remedy when citizenship is acquired by fraudulent means, or when a person poses a serious threat to our society.

“Revocation of Irish citizenship is only undertaken in the most serious of circumstances and I am aware that the loss of citizenship has serious consequences.” 

The powers have been reinstated since April 7, after the commencement order was signed.

Concerns have been repeatedly raised over the proposals, however, with the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) writing to former Justice Minister Helen McEntee over the laws.

In particular, it criticised the haste by which the Government opted to pass the changes, citing the lack of scrutiny in the Dáil over amendments which came to the bill.