Vol. 529 No. 3
139 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the procedure to be followed by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare when applying for residency status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2890/01]
The position is that nationals of the European Union are entitled to reside in the State in accordance with the provisions of the Union law. It is open to EU nationals to obtain a residence permit as evidence of those directly effective rights and I am forwarding an information note to the Deputy in this regard. I am also forwarding information relating to the procedure whereby a person may apply for Irish citizenship through naturalisation if they fulfil certain statutory conditions, including having a total of five years residence in the State in the nine year period preceding the date of the application, the last year being a period of continuous residence.
