Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 18 May 2000

Vol. 519 No. 4

Written Answers. - Citizenship Applications.

Bernard Allen

Question:

112 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason children of recently conferred Irish citizens are being told that they have to be in Ireland on an independent basis for five years before they can apply for Irish citizenship; the exact regulations in relation to this situation; and the reason an 18 year old student has been informed that she has to have five years of independent living in this country in view of the fact the student is already four years in the country with her father. [13960/00]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

An application for a certificate of naturalisation made by a person of full age is processed under section 15 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956 as amended in 1986. This section provides that the Minister for Justice may, in his absolute discretion, grant a certificate of naturalisation where the statutory provisions are complied with. One of the conditions is that the applicant must have had five years residence in the State in the nine years preceding the application. Applications in respect of adult children of naturalised Irish persons are considered in their own right. Section 16(a) of the aforementioned Act, provides that the Minister, may, if he thinks fit, waive some or all of the statutory requirements in cases where the applicant is of Irish descent or association.

In the absence of more complete details in respect of the person referred to by the Deputy, I am unable to comment further on information they may have received.