Nasc is deeply concerned by recent media reports suggesting that people who have accessed social welfare supports could lose eligibility to apply for naturalisation. This proposal would create a two-tier system that punishes families, workers, disabled people, carers and young people for relying on the very supports that exist to protect the most vulnerable in our society.
Ireland’s social welfare system is built on a simple principle. When people face illness, disability, job loss, exploitation, caring responsibilities or financial hardship, the State steps in to prevent poverty and ensure dignity. These supports exist because we recognise that life is unpredictable and that no person, and no child, should face hardship without assistance. Social protection is not a sign of failure. It is a reflection of our values.
Treating the use of essential supports as grounds to deny citizenship directly undermines this purpose. It suggests that seeking help is something shameful or suspect, rather than a core part of how Ireland protects its people. It would force parents to weigh their children’s wellbeing against their future in the country they call home. It would leave disabled people and carers afraid to seek help. It would trap workers in abusive or exploitative jobs because applying for support could be used against them. It would stop young people from pursuing education and upskilling. It would punish survivors fleeing domestic violence and even children who arrived here alone.
This is a poorly thought out and reactionary response to short-term political pressure, not a considered policy. No impact assessment has been carried out. We do not know how many children would be pushed into poverty because parents were too afraid to apply for payments like the Working Family Payment. We do not know how many disabled people or carers would go without essential support. We do not know the cost to Ireland’s economy if workers stay trapped in unsafe jobs or if people cannot upskill to meet the demand for skilled workers. We do not know how many people would remain in violent homes rather than risk seeking help.
Policies of this scale and seriousness require evidence. They require analysis. They require consideration of human rights obligations, child protection responsibilities and the long-term social and economic impact on the State. None of this has happened.
This is not just a threat to migrants or future applicants. It is a threat to the integrity of Ireland’s entire social protection system. If a government is willing to penalise one group for needing support today, it becomes easier to weaken protections for others tomorrow. That should worry all of us.
Ireland should not become a place where people are punished for reaching out for help. Our social welfare system reflects solidarity, fairness and compassion. It ensures that every family has the chance to live with dignity and stability. Undermining this system undermines the very values that define us.
We believe in an Ireland that stands by working parents, protects disabled people, values carers, supports survivors of abuse, gives young people opportunities, and recognises that everyone deserves safety and equality.