Mon Sep 16 16:08:21 UTC 2024: ## Irish Rugby Star Bundee Aki Granted Irish Citizenship

**Dublin, Ireland -** Irish rugby star Bundee Aki was among over 3,600 people granted Irish citizenship at a ceremony held today at the Convention Centre in Dublin. The New Zealand-born rugby player, who has represented Ireland since 2017, expressed his honor at becoming an Irish citizen.

Aki, who spoke to both Virgin Media and RTÉ about the significance of the occasion, said the citizenship means “everything” to him and that he has “embraced” Ireland and feels embraced in return.

The ceremony, one of 14 held so far this year, saw individuals from 143 countries across the island of Ireland granted Irish citizenship.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee expressed her joy at sharing the special day with so many people and her confidence that they will continue to contribute to making Ireland a more diverse and vibrant place to live.

Minister of State with responsibility for Integration Joe O’Brien thanked the new Irish citizens for “choosing Ireland as their home and for contributing so much to our nation”, while Neale Richmond highlighted the “integral role” migration plays in Ireland’s economic development.

Since their introduction in 2011, the citizenship ceremonies have seen over 180,000 people from over 180 countries become Irish citizens. The Citizenship Division has recently implemented changes to speed up the application process, including online applications, payments, and vetting.

The number of applications processed annually has increased from around 12,000 to over 20,000 in 2023, with close to 16,000 decisions made in the first half of this year.

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