‘Certificate of Irishness’ plan will be put into action – SEE POLL
Published Friday, January 7, 2011, 5:05 AM
Updated Friday, January 7, 2011, 7:07 AM
Larger Text
Print
E-mail
17 Comments
Irish passport
IrishCentral.com Poll
Read more: Certificate of Irishness receives mixed reaction
The plan to issue “Certificates of Irishness” has been given the green light. The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that the scheme would be unveiled in the next few weeks.
The scheme is aimed at those 80 million people around the world who claim Irish ancestry but do not qualify for an Irish passport.
The certificate was first suggested at the Global Irish Economic Forum.
Minister Martin has confirmed that the plan will now go ahead. He said “It will enable people who have a strong Irish connection to assert their Irishness and their heritage.”
He also emphasized that the certificate will have no legal standing and will be of no expense to the Irish taxpayer.
The numbers of people claiming their Irish citizenship annually under ‘the Granny Rule’ shows that there is an appetite worldwide amongst diaspora to be connected to Ireland. Last year more than 11,500 claimed citizenship because one of their grandparents were born in Ireland.
Speaking to the Irish Examiner Mr Martin said "Demand for citizenship through an Irish grandparent has spiked over the past two years, with 11,500 people putting in their claim during 2010.
"There has been an increased awareness of the rule since the Global Irish Economic Forum at Farmleigh, with more of our citizens coming forward to claim the entitlement to call themselves Irish and to have the right to a passport.
"I am keenly aware of the demands from people with an Irish background worldwide who want to forge stronger links with the land of their grandparents, great-grandparents and even further back.”
He continued “"They want their links with our country recognised and I am delighted that we are in a position to do that.
"Our communities play a huge part in bringing Irish sports, arts and culture to the world. They are also key in establishing business links in key world markets that will be central to our economic recovery."
Read more: Certificate of Irishness receives mixed reaction
Most Emailed on IrishCentral
- Irish man who admits he was married to 19 women is convicted of bigamy
- Irish sayings, proverbs and prayers for St. Patrick's Day
- Top Rabbi believes Catholic Church is imposing Sharia Law on Americans over contraception
- The perfect St. Patrick's Day meal - beef and Guinness stew
- Ireland's funniest man Frank Carson: 20 of his best jokes
Most Popular on IrishCentral
- Yet another Irish Times columnist attacks Irish American identity as not Irish
- Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart spotted on romantic rendezvous in Paris
- The CEO who insults the Irish and laughs all the way to the bank
- Olivia Wilde goes topless for FHM - SEE PHOTOS
- Irish man who admits he was married to 19 women is convicted of bigamy
17 Comments
See all comments
sirpeter | Jan 09, 2011, 01:19 PM EST
Woundedbolix..BOO!!!!!..Here comes the big bully...HA HA
Report abuse
kevinarce | Jan 09, 2011, 10:31 AM EST
I think it is a great way for the Irish government to capitalize on the passion of so many Americans who passionately claim Irish ancestory. Of course I expect many Americans to jump at the chance to get a piece of paper claiming their heritage. Additionally, I am sure many of them would be buying these as gifts for newborns, etc. Many of these people have a disconnected view of Ireland, they think it is all four leaf clovers and green fields. Reality would be better served if they did some digging into what is really happening in Ireland today. They would be surprised to find that there are more parallels with American cities than with the stories of old from their grandparents.
WoundedKnee | Jan 09, 2011, 06:12 AM EST
One of the reasons I post here is that for all its defects this site permits people to discuss the reality of Ireland today, far from the romantic mists of the Irish Tourist Board ads. So I won't let Curpeter bully me off this site. Curpeter tries to sell a Quiet Man Ireland to Irish-Americans that is far from the often brutal reality. To return to the latest case of animal cruelty I highlighted, today's online newpaper quotes a witness to the torture of the puppy as saying that the dog was initially run over by a car... "The dog was still alive as far as I could see before these kids got their hands on it. I will never forget what I saw. They didn't just give it a kick. They, all three of them, danced up and down on it in turns. I still feel sick thinking about it."... Now of course the actions of three chuildren in themselves would establish no trend. But the grim reality is that acts of mindless cruelty and brutality are mirrored in countless other stories out of Ireland. Having rejected all the traditional tenets by which the country lived, Ireland is now a moral vacuum, where crime and evil flourish. If you listen to Irish radio online you'll hear a long list of attacks and violence, against both animal and human. Always a people with a tendency to mindless violence (remember the faction fighters?) the Irish are now adding drugs and even more alcohol to their psychoses. So far, tourists have mainly been victims of theft and mugging, but there have been some cases of murder and rape. Folks who are thinking of vacationing in Ireland should think again--it's going to get worse. And as for that Certificate of Irishness--I say to the Irish, clean up your country and come back to me in a decade or two before you ask me to support it.
sirpeter | Jan 08, 2011, 09:29 PM EST
@forflann..Colin Farrell was born in 1976.Lets use a little logic here.He was just 18 in 1994 when the first ceasefire came into place.Colin Farrell auditioned for the Irish group Boyzone when he was younger then that..The I.R.A wouldn't have a guy like him.He's an actor not a soldier. I would say he might have said at some stage he had Republican leanings like half the population of Ireland might say. That probably was enough for him to be excluded.If they knew who was IRA that easy,they would never have lasted..That's my opinion anyway..but life is full of surprises ;)
forflann | Jan 08, 2011, 07:11 PM EST
Sir Peter, during the making of The Recruit, the director asked if the cast could take a walk through of the CIA building, as the story centered on CIA training. All were given an ok,except Colin Farrell. This tale is on the director's commentary of the dvd. Did the CIA think Farrell was IRA? If ya' doubt it rent the dvd and hear it youreself.
sirpeter | Jan 08, 2011, 05:22 PM EST
seamus..I think it would be best to ignore woundedbollix..Everyone thinks he's a pr*ck with ears anyway.Nobody takes him serious and he does have some sort of a mental illness of some kind.You're only feeding the troll.He's gone beyond responding too.
davidgavan | Jan 08, 2011, 12:34 PM EST
Good idea, if the government can peddle 80 million of them at a net return of $12/per it would realize almost a billion dollars for the somewhat depleted treasury.
seamusmoore | Jan 08, 2011, 12:11 PM EST
woundedbollix: to you I dedicate the Patrick Bergin song "The Knacker". Check it out on you tube. Perhaps sirpeter or antoman could direct you to the zoo on Cork Street or some of the Dubs on here could point you to the N7 and Kildare town.
WoundedKnee | Jan 08, 2011, 05:22 AM EST
Before Irish-Americans, Irish-Canadians, Irish-Argentinians etc. claim their certificates, they might want to think about whether they really want to be identified with Ireland. There are horrifying stories coming out of Ireland right now about a wave of cruelty to animals. Horses are being tortured to death, others are just left to starve. In one case a group of people drove over a horse, and then reversed over him as he lay on the street. In fact a German TV station has just done a big feature on it, causing lots of Germans to volunteer to adopt a horse and give it a decent life, far away from the brutality of modern Ireland. And just today, there's a report in the Dublin "Irish Independent" newspaper. I can't quote it in full, but I'll give the first few lines>> "Three children, one as young as five, laughed and cheered as they kicked a puppy to death in a rural housing estate.
A horrified neighbour witnessed the shocking roadside scene in the Long Lane in Letterkenny, Co Donegal.
And an animal welfare group last night criticised the gardai after they failed to investigate the incident..."
The way things are going, I'll be wanting to get a Certificate of Non-Irishness, in order not to be associated with this nation of drunks, perverts and animal abusers.
ladyjane | Jan 07, 2011, 10:39 PM EST
Certificate of Irishness sounds like a wonderful plan. My grandson is planning on studying in Ireland in the fall and he would be thrilled to have this. All four of his great-grandparents came from Ireland.
Fightin69th | Jan 07, 2011, 04:18 PM EST
IT would be great of the Irish Govt to help the exdous of "Irish Citzens" that leave its shore for a better life. At least give us the opportunity to vote in elections.....but, no, they are more focused on printing these certificates up than taking care of their own people.
sirpeter | Jan 07, 2011, 01:51 PM EST
IRISH HERITAGE will jeopardise your US Security clearance..Did you forget your meds to-day Creakygate?,the small green,white and gold one,that makes you less confused.
beachline | Jan 07, 2011, 01:46 PM EST
TO: irishlassred: To the best of my knowledge your irish citizenship will not jeopardize your childrens security clearance. You are the one who will hold dual citizenship, not them. Two of my children have high security clearances for their jobs and my dual citizenship does not affect them.
Towngate | Jan 07, 2011, 10:39 AM EST
IRISH HERITAGE will jeopardise your US Security clearance? Is this what the Authorities really think of Ireland? Some Bond with the old homeland,eh?
- Yet another Irish Times columnist attacks...
- Obama campaign corrects four leaf clovers...
- Top Rabbi believes Catholic Church is imposing.
- The CEO who insults the Irish and laughs...
- Catholic priest refuses lesbian communion...
- Irish nun to face 87 charges of sexual abuse...
- Irish man who admits he was married to 19...
- Time for Ireland to play hardball in Europe...
- Rush Limbaugh’s McCarthy moment at last
- Chris O’Dowd’s bride-to-be sports controversial
- Yet another Irish Times columnist attacks...
- Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart spotted...
- The CEO who insults the Irish and laughs...
- Olivia Wilde goes topless for FHM - SEE PHOTOS.
- Irish man who admits he was married to 19...
- Irish nun to face 87 charges of sexual abuse...
- Obama campaign corrects four leaf clovers...
- 'Please give me a job' desperate Dad advertises
- Ireland's funniest man Frank Carson: 20 of...
- Irish sayings, proverbs and prayers for St....
- Irish man who admits he was married to 19...
- Irish sayings, proverbs and prayers for St....
- Top Rabbi believes Catholic Church is imposing.
- The perfect St. Patrick's Day meal - beef...
- Ireland's funniest man Frank Carson: 20 of...
- Obama campaign corrects four leaf clovers...
- Irish nun to face 87 charges of sexual abuse...
- Dreams resurrected - an adult Irish dancer's...
- Cuban Celtic festival to be held in April...
- St. Patrick’s Day celebrations across the...
Most Recent Blog Posts
