Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 September 2022
431. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications that her Department annually receives for citizenship based on Irish descent or associations; the average processing time; if applications are received from persons who are resident outside the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44503/22]
View answerStatistics are not compiled in such a manner as to identify applicants for a certificate of naturalisation by Irish association as required by the Deputy, however, I am informed by my officials that there are currently 311 Irish association cases under active consideration.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the statutory criteria attendant to naturalisation can only be made after an application is received.
Section 15 of the Act sets out the statutory conditions that must be fulfilled for a certificate of naturalisation to be granted.
Section 16 of the Act gives the Minister the absolute discretion to waive the statutory conditions in certain circumstances, including where the applicant is of Irish descent or Irish associations (defined as related through blood, affinity or adoption to a person who is or is entitled to be an Irish citizen). Any application under Section 16 that relies on Irish associations and affinity should be supported by substantive documentation supporting the claim, documentation that in the view of the Minister renders the application exceptional and one where the normal pathways to citizenship provided for under the legislation are not appropriate.
There is no right or entitlement to have any of the statutory conditions waived even where the applicant comes within the certain circumstances defined. This discretion is used very rarely and only under the most exceptional and compelling circumstances
