Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 February 2009
206 Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made in respect of naturalisation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5066/09]
View answerOfficials in the Citizenship Section of my Department inform me that the application from the person referred to in the Deputy's Question is nearing completion and I will be making a decision on it in the very near future.
207 Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a person (details supplied) can apply for citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5073/09]
View answer208 Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the process involved for an Australian citizen living in Australia who is married to an Irish citizen who wants to apply for full citizenship here; the process they need to go through to obtain Irish citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5086/09]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 208 together.
The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, as amended, provides that the Minister may, in his absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation provided certain statutory conditions are fulfilled. In the case of a non-national applicant who is the spouse of an Irish citizen, those conditions are that the applicant must — be of full age, be of good character, be married to the Irish citizen for a period of not less than three years, be in a marriage recognised under the laws of the State as subsisting, be living together as husband and wife with the Irish spouse, have had a period of one year's continuous residency in the island of Ireland immediately before the date of the application and, during the four years immediately preceding that period, have had a total residence in the island of Ireland amounting to two years, intend in good faith to continue to reside in the island of Ireland after naturalisation, have made, either before a Judge of the District Court in open court or in such a manner as the Minister, for special reasons allows, a declaration in the prescribed manner, of fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the State.
It is open to the person concerned to lodge an application for a certificate of naturalisation with my Department if and when they are in a position to meet the statutory requirements applicable at that time.
209 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of applications for citizenship from US citizens granted in each year since 1998 to date in 2009. [5121/09]
View answerI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service that the statistics requested by the Deputy are not compiled in such a manner as to provide data on the granting of naturalisation by country of origin.
