Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 December 2012
488. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a visa will be extended in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if this person is entitled to apply for a work permit; if this person is entitled to apply for naturalisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56909/12]
View answerI have been informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that the person referred to by the Deputy was first registered on 27 April 2005 and has permission to remain in the State on Stamp 3 conditions until 11 May 2013.
An application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person concerned in October, 2011. The application is being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation, such as good character and lawful residence, and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
As well as being a significant event in the life of its recipient, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation as provided for in law is also a major step for the State which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
Work permits are dealt with by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. If the person referred to by the Deputy wishes to apply for a work permit she should contact that Department.
Queries in relation to general immigration matters may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
