Use of 'non-national' to be reviewed

The use of the term "non-national" to describe a person not born in this country to non-Irish parents, is to be reviewed, the Department of Justice has confirmed.

A spokeswoman for the Department said yesterday the Minister, Michael McDowell was "minded to bring his attention to finding a more appropriate use of language". She said the issue was being looked at in the context of the Immigration Bill due to be published shortly.

The issue was raised in the Dáil last week by Fianna Fáil TD Pat Carey.

Describing the use of the term as inaccurate, he said there were "very few people living in Ireland who do not have a nationality".

"This term can often be misinterpreted to mean that immigrants to Ireland are living here illegally, which the vast majority are not."

The phrase was outdated and should have no place in public debate, he added.

Increasingly the term "non-Irish national" is used. The Department spokeswoman said the development of terminology was "always incremental" and pointed out that as recently as 1998 the legal term for a person born outside the State to non-Irish parents and who was in the State was "alien".

Introducing the term "non-national" into Irish legislation in the 1999 Immigration Bill, the then minister for justice, John O'Donoghue, referred to the new legal term.

"This expression is more in keeping with modern usage than the term 'alien', which has been used in the Aliens Act 1935," he said.

"Nowadays it is more likely to conjure up images of outer space than of people from other countries. I am happier to see its use discontinued," he said.

Mr Carey said yesterday he welcomed Mr McDowell's commitment to review the use of "non-national" and urged him to do so as quickly as possible.