Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 July 2013
861. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current or expected position on residency entitlement for consideration for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare whose spouse is an Irish citizen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34315/13]
View answerThe person concerned was granted temporary permission to remain in the State on 4 February 2005 for a two-year period, under the revised arrangements applicable to the non-EEA national parents of Irish parents of Irish-born children born in the State before 1 January 2005, more commonly known as the IBC/05 Scheme. This permission was renewed on a regular basis and is currently valid until 31 January 2015. A valid application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy in May 2012. 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 in the State and at European Union level. It is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process. Queries on the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the 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 the INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
