Citizenship Applications

Tuesday, 2 October 2012

Questions (407)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

407. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his policy with regard to Latvian persons living for many years here and who are anxious to acquire Irish residency status or even Irish citizenship and who currently have the Alien Latvian passports apparently given to non-Latvian speakers; if in such cases he will consider granting residency on compassionate grounds in view of the extraordinary nature of those Latvian passports in a member state of the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41233/12]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy is aware, this is a complex issue which is derived from the status of such persons living in Latvia when it was part of the former USSR. I understand there is no blanket policy here in operation in relation to persons classified as Latvian aliens, as the circumstances of each case may be different. In general, the holder of a Latvian alien passport is treated much in the same way as a non-EEA national. They do not enjoy the same rights of free movement as the holders of a full Latvian passport. However, they are not debarred from seeking Irish citizenship and, over the years a number have become naturalised while others have obtained Irish residence and registered with the Garda National Immigration Bureau.