Ireland: Citizenship to involve a language test

[Harold Schiffman]

Citizenship to involve language test
Carl O'Brien and Ruadhán Mac Cormaic

Mon, Dec 17, 2007

Immigrants who want to become Irish citizens will have to reach a
minimum standard in English under proposals being drawn up by the
Government. Legislation to be published next month will allow for the
introduction of a language test for citizenship under which applicants
must demonstrate "reasonable competence" for communicating in English
or Irish. At present migrants can apply for citizenship if they have
been living here for five years. There is no language requirement,
although applicants must be of "good character" and pledge fidelity to
the State.

Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan says citizenship should not just be
a matter of "clocking up the necessary number of months for
residence". Instead, he argues that citizenship applicants should have
the ability to communicate with their prospective fellow citizens.
While provision for the introduction of the test is due to be included
in the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill, it may be some time
before the tests are introduced. Mr Lenihan says there are significant
logistical issues which remain to be addressed, such as how the
testing regime will operate.

Officials are awaiting a Government-commissioned study on the capacity
of the education system for teaching English to foreign nationals, as
well as a new national training policy, before publishing detailed
proposals about the tests. Groups such as the Immigrant Council of
Ireland have called on authorities to make sure there is sufficient
capacity in the education system for teaching English. The council's
chairman John Cunningham said: "If the Government were to make
competency in English a requirement for long-term residency or
citizenship, it has an obligation to ensure there are enough courses
available to allow migrants with limited language skills the
opportunity to learn." The group suggested the Government should
establish a central agency to tender out a wide range of courses -
from those for people with little or no English through to
introductory courses for those who would benefit from learning more
about Irish society.

In the UK, language tests for citizens have been in place for some
time. Applicants are obliged to read and write to a certain standard,
and also speak and understand English in a variety of formal and
informal situations. A "Life in the UK" test is also included, in
which applicants must show a basic knowledge of national culture. The
tests in the UK are also being expanded to include long-term
immigrants who do not go on to become British citizens. Those who can
afford language lessons are expected to pay for their classes,
although a number of free English courses are also available. Another
issue facing the Government is a backlog in citizenship applications.
At present, it can take several years for an application to be
processed.

(c) 2007 The Irish Times

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/frontpage/2007/1217/1197544026297.html?via=me

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