Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 January 2010
566 Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason for refusal of a certificate of naturalisation to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1114/10]
View answerA valid 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 January 2007 and I decided in my absolute discretion not to grant a certificate of naturalisation. The person concerned was informed of this decision in a letter issued to him on 23 November, 2009. There is no appeals process provided under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, as amended.
It is open to the person in question to lodge a new application with the Citizenship Division of my Department at any time.
567 Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of an application for citizenship in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Meath; when he expects a decision to be made on this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1126/10]
View answerValid applications for certificates of naturalisation from the persons referred to in the Deputy's Question were received in the Citizenship Division of my Department in April 2009.
All valid applications are dealt with in chronological order as this is deemed to be the fairest to all applicants. The average processing time from application to decision is now at 24 months. More complicated cases can at times take more than the current average, while an element of straight forward cases can be dealt with in less than that timescale.
The length of time taken to process each application should not be classified as a delay, as the length of time taken for any application to be decided is purely a function of the time taken to carry out necessary checks. There is a limit to the reduction in the processing time that can be achieved as applications for naturalisation must be processed in a way which preserves the necessary checks and balances to ensure that it is not undervalued and is only given to persons who genuinely satisfy the necessary qualifying criteria.
