<\/span><\/h3>\nCitizenship grants the most extensive rights to be in the State and enjoy the benefits of its laws and protection. Nationals and naturalised residents are citizens.\u00a0 A wide range of persons potentially qualify for Irish citizenship.\u00a0 In some cases, qualification is automatic, while in others, the Minister for Justice has an element of discretion in the matter<\/p>\n
Article 2 of the Constitution declares that it is the entitlement and birth right of every person born in the island of Ireland, which includes its islands and seas to be part of the Irish nation.\u00a0 It is the entitlement of all persons, qualified in accordance with law, to be citizens of Ireland. The Constitution declares that the Irish nation cherishes its special affinity with people of Irish ancestry living abroad, who share its cultural identity and heritage.<\/p>\n
A person born in the island of Ireland including islands and seas, who does not have at the time of that birth, at least one parent who is an Irish citizen or who is entitled to be an Irish citizen, is not entitled to Irish citizenship or nationality, unless provided for by law. \u00a0This provision which was introduced into the Constitution by referendum in 2004, does not apply to persons born before its introduction<\/p>\n
\n<\/span>Irish Citizenship II<\/span><\/h3>\nThe Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts 1956-2004 determines the right to Irish citizenship. In the case of person born before 2005, every person born in Ireland became an Irish citizen from birth. Every person became an Irish citizen if his father or mother was an Irish citizen at the time of that person’s birth. The entitlement did not apply to the child of an alien who, at the time of the child’s birth, is entitled to diplomatic immunity in the State.<\/p>\n
The automatic conferral of citizenship did not apply to a person, not otherwise an Irish citizen, born in Northern Ireland on or after the establishment of the Irish Free State, unless he (or if a minor, his parents or guardian) declared himself to be an Irish citizen in the prescribed form declared himself to be an Irish citizen.<\/p>\n
After 1st<\/sup>\u00a0January 2005, a person born in the island of Ireland after 1 January 2005 to parents, at least one of whom was an Irish or British citizen or entitled to reside in the State or Northern Ireland without any restrictions on his or her residence, has an entitlement of Irish citizenship.<\/p>\n