Outrage When Caller Suggests Immigrants Shouldn't Have To Pay For Irish Citizenship

The government is planning a major shake-up of Irish citizenship rules — including stretching the residency requirement from 5 years to 8, bringing in an English (or Irish) language test, and tougher checks around “self-sufficiency”. So is it fair… or just political optics?

We hear from a New Zealander married to an Irishman, six months pregnant, working full-time as a solicitor — worried maternity and child benefit could count against her application.

Callers clash over “welfare holidays”, deportations, and whether the €1,200 citizenship fee is a disgrace or just the price of a privilege.