The Irish government has announced plans to introduce a certificate of Irish heritage for up to 70 million people of Irish descent around the world who do not qualify for citizenship.

The plan is simple. If you're Irish and can prove it then you will qualify for discounts that stretch into airfares, hotel accommodation and a range of tourist attractions.

Each visitor with Irish ancestry will be eligible for a certificate of Irish heritage, and can use this to make their way around Ireland on less money than those who don't have any Irish heritage.

The plan suggests that the certificate comes in the form of a small credit-card style card that visitors can carry in their wallets with them.

Although it won't entitle them to any legal rights or Irish citizenship, it will allow for deep discounts throughout the country.

The certificates will be issued by a third party agency acting under license from the Department of Foreign Affairs, which is considering charging a fee for each document issued. The price charged for the certificates has yet to be set.

Currently anyone born in Ireland or born abroad with an Irish parent or grandparent can qualify for Irish citizenship. However, the Certificate of Irish Heritage will extend beyond Irish grandparents.

Once a person can prove their Irish ancestry – by producing a legitimate birth certificate or church records of death, a marriage or baptism certificate, or even land records or a will – then they will be eligible for the certificate.

The idea stems from the Global Irish Economic Forum hosted by the Irish government at Farmleigh in Dublin last year, which took place to see how to connect the 70-million Irish Diaspora across the globe.

The certificates are expected to be available from the end of this year. The program is to run on a trial basis for a year, and if successful will be renewed annually for up to five years.

Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin said the government had taken "a broad and inclusive approach" to defining Ireland's global community.

"The Irish diaspora is not limited to Irish citizens living abroad or to those who have activated citizenship. Instead, it encompasses all those who believe they are of Irish descent and feel a sense of affinity with this country," he said.

He stated that "the reach, power and influence of many members of the diaspora can provide Ireland with an important competitive edge."

Jeffrey Goodwin, whose great grandparents came from Ireland, told the Irish Voice through Facebook on Tuesday that the initiative "is a superb idea" and one that he plans to avail of.

"I've been talking about visiting Ireland for some time now, and after hearing about this certificate of roots I will be applying for my discounts," said Goodwin.

Cathryn Reilly "loves the idea." With two grandparents born in Ireland, and proof of it, "maybe my next trip to visit the cousins will be less costly," she said.

Tom Gallagher said, "My paternal grandparents were from the small town of Glenties in Donegal. I think this is a great idea."