By Donal Devlin and Finghín Kelly
In the week the fascistic Donald Trump arrives in Ireland, the Government has taken a leaf out of his book by trying to further stoke racism in our society. Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan announced new laws to restrict the right to obtain citizenship in Ireland.
It also comes at a time when the Government is boasting about reducing the number of refugees entering the state and increasing the number it is deporting. The racist dog whistle inherent in O’Callaghan’s proposals will only embolden and strengthen far-right forces and racist attitudes generally. This will in turn lead to a rise in verbal and physical racist abuse against migrants and racialised communities generally.
This cannot be accepted and must be actively opposed. It is sickening that while they are rolling out the red carpet for data centres and tech bros, the Government is attacking and scapegoating ordinary migrants.
Discriminatory
Under these proposals, the residency period required to become a citizen will rise from five to eight years; applicants will be required to take language exams in English or Irish; and people in receipt of social welfare payments in the previous two years will be barred from applying. At a time when racism and far-right ideas are growing in Irish society, this will only add to the sense of fear felt by migrants living here.
Many non-EU citizens, in particular, want to naturalise and become Irish citizens, as it can have real consequences for employment, study, and travel. Adding an additional three years to the time needed to gain citizenship will add extra costs, barriers and stress.
Targeting poorest
Migrants who lose their jobs will be reluctant to apply for social welfare for fear it will put their application in jeopardy. They will effectively be economically penalised under this legislation.
The rules around social welfare speak volumes about this Government’s mentality. In reality, they don’t regard those who receive welfare payments as being equal, be they Irish or migrant. Their message is clear: they want only high-income earners to be citizens. There are already punitively high income thresholds for those working here on work permits who wish to have their close family – including their own children – living with them.
Requiring a certain income, or not having claimed welfare benefits, will create major injustices. It will exclude the low-paid, those taking time off work to care for others, disabled people, and older people. It will hit women hardest.
Stoking division
The obligation to pass a language exam is another unnecessary barrier. Only a tiny fraction of Ireland’s population does not speak English. Rather than forcing people to take exams that carry an expense, the state should provide free classes in both English and Irish that migrants can take if they wish. Forcing people to pass an academic exam to access citizenship will discriminate against those who struggle with such tests, such as some disabled and neurodivergent people.
A cruel impact
These new laws will have the cruel impact of increasing the number of young people growing up here, and even born here, who do not have Irish citizenship. This has real consequences. Those leaving school who are not Irish / EU / UK citizens need to apply for work permits to work, and are subject to extortionate fees in third level. These new changes – especially with income limits – will see this cohort denied the right to work and study in the country they grew up in.
This Government is presiding over multiple social crises – whether cost of living, housing, underfunded services, childcare. All of which flow from its agenda of prioritising the interests of multinationals, big business and private profit generally. In this context, it is seeking to create division, attacking migrants who make invaluable contributions to our society. They should be given the citizenship rights they deserve. All people who have made Ireland their home should have the same rights and legal status.
We must reject this rotten proposal and the division it seeks to create. A united campaign, with organisations representing migrants in Ireland to the fore, should be established. The trade union movement, particularly those unions that represent migrant workers, such as in the health, hospitality and transport sectors, should firmly take a stance against this proposal. They should use their influence and the power of their members to ensure it is scrapped.
We cannot allow Trumpian, racist politics to become normalised. Both FF and FG and the right-wing independents who are backing them stand for a capitalist system built on inequality and injustice, totally devoid of compassion and solidarity. We must reject them and this system, and fight for a socialist society built in the interests of all.
