The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (‘the Commission’) has this week provided legal assistance to a naturalised Irish citizen (‘the applicant’) who challenged a requirement to register the birth of his child on a ‘Foreign Birth Register’ in order to have their Irish citizenship recognised.
The Applicant, a naturalised Irish citizen, was working abroad with his family when the child was born. While researching how to obtain an Irish passport for his child, he learned that he had to register his child’s birth on a Foreign Birth Register before their citizenship would be recognised by the Irish State. The Applicant refused to do so on principle, noting that children born abroad to Irish citizens by birth had their citizenship automatically recognised without a requirement to register the birth.
The Applicant argues that the requirement to register the birth of his child on the Foreign Birth Register in order to have the child’s citizenship recognised is discriminatory. The Commission provided legal assistance to the Applicant under section 40 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act. Following a two day hearing in the High Court, Mr. Justice Barry O’Donnell reserved his judgment, which is expected in the new year.
Chief Commissioner Liam Herrick said:
“We were glad to provide legal assistance to the Applicant in this important rights-based case. As the matter is under consideration by the High Court, we will make no further comment at this time.”
ENDS/
Notes to editor: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is an independent public body, appointed by the President and directly accountable to the Oireachtas. The Commission has a statutory remit set out under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act (2014) to protect and promote human rights and equality in Ireland, and build a culture of respect for human rights, equality and intercultural understanding in the State. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is Ireland’s national human rights institution and is recognised as such by the United Nations. The Commission is also Ireland’s national equality body for the purpose of a range of EU anti-discrimination measures.