Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 October 2013
280. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the procedures to date and yet to be followed in examination and determination of eligibility for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43613/13]
View answerI am advised that an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department and I decided to refuse the application. The person concerned was informed of this and the reasons for it in a letter issued on 17th September, 2013.
It is open to the person in question to lodge a new application if and when he is in a position to meet the statutory residency requirements applicable at that time.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour 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.
The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases 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.
