The Taoiseach has said that the new criteria to gain citizenship may not apply to those who are already in the country.

Currently, anyone who wishes to become an Irish citizen must have a period of reckonable residence (the time spent legally living in Ireland) of five years.

However, earlier this week, proposals were made that would see the period of reckonable residence extended from five years to eight years — a change that raised alarm bells for those who are already living in Ireland and who may have to wait longer before they become a citizen through naturalisation.

Speaking in New York earlier this week, Taoiseach Micheál Martin was asked if the amendment would apply to those who are already living in Ireland, or those who enter the country after the rule comes into effect.

‘The Minister has outlined the broad framework governing the reform of citizenship rules,’ Mr Martin said. ‘The details of that will be coming to government, and aspects, such as the one you’ve just mentioned will be looked at in terms of people who are already in the country, but I wait for the ministers to come back.’

Mr Martin was then asked if the change would be fair to those already in Ireland; he said that the government would consider the issue.

‘We’ll wait for the ministers to come back in terms of the detail of that and we would be fair,’ Mr Martin said. ‘On the other hand, there was a situation where some people coming through the asylum process, for a combination of reasons, some being the slowness of the administration of applications and holding of appeals, but many ended up in a legal situation and before you knew it, people were five years in the country and claiming citizenship, that did happen too.’

Mr Martin differentiated this way of entry to those who are entering the country through employment permits, adding: ‘You have people working here, who came in through work permits and so forth, and we understand that they’ve played by the rules as they exist to date.

‘So, these are issues that fall for further discussion and the Minister made that clear to the Cabinet when he brought it to government, so he’s working on the detail of it and will come back to us.’

As well as the proposed extended period of staying in Ireland, the other proposed changes to naturalisation include a test in English or Irish proficiency, as well as showing that applicants are self-sufficient and won’t become a burden on the state. A minimum income is also expected to be implemented by the Minister for Justice.

The new rules are expected to come into place before Christmas.