Ireland is preparing to introduce significant changes to its citizenship rules as part of a broader effort to manage migration flows, according to recent reports. Taoiseach (prime minister) Micheál Martin has said the reforms will align Ireland with other European nations in terms of citizenship requirements. The updated regulations are expected to be presented to the Cabinet this week, with Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan planning to propose amendments to the existing laws and overhaul the citizenship process. Under the proposed changes, individuals seeking Irish citizenship would need to reside in the country for eight years, up from the current requirement of five years. Applicants would also be required to demonstrate proficiency in either English or Irish, as well as pass a test on Irish civics and history. Additionally, time spent in Ireland under the Temporary Protection scheme, which was introduced to accommodate Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine, will not count toward the residency requirement. Martin emphasized that this scheme was "never meant to be a pathway to citizenship." Ireland has been among the most generous European Union countries in accepting Ukrainian refugees, with a high number of Ukrainians arriving per capita. O’Callaghan defended the proposed eight-year residency requirement, calling it a "reasonable period" for someone to be eligible for citizenship. He also said the changes would help "restrain" the growth in the number of citizenship applications, which have risen significantly in recent years. Last year, 25,000 people were granted Irish citizenship. O’Callaghan pointed to other European Union countries as examples, noting that Luxembourg requires 20 years of residency, Lithuania requires 10 years, and Germany requires eight years—similar to the proposed Irish rule. He argued that these benchmarks reflect a shared approach across the EU to balancing national identity with the realities of migration and integration. The proposed legislation is expected to be finalized and introduced in the coming weeks.