Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 January 2010
536 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason work permits prior to 2006 were not taken into account when calculating reckonable residency in the State for an application for naturalisation in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48274/09]
View answerAn application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's Question was received in the Citizenship Division of my Department in October 2007.
On examination of the application submitted it was determined that the person in question did not meet the statutory residency requirements as set out in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, as amended. The person concerned was informed of this in a letter issued on 13 February, 2008.
Applicants for certificates of naturalisation are required to provide evidence that they were resident and that they had the permission of the Minister to remain in the State for the prescribed period. Periods for which an applicant did not have the permission of the Minister and periods for which permission granted for the purpose of study are not reckonable for the purpose of satisfying the residency requirements.
Permission to remain in the State as confirmed by the Garda National Immigration Bureau is a matter of vital importance to all applicants for Citizenship. Applicants must ensure that their registration with the GNIB is kept up to date during their residency in this country.
