Bernard Durkan
Question:410. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the current position in the application of a person (details supplied) for naturalisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41199/23]
View answerTuesday, 26 September 2023
Questions (410)
Written answers
The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department.
Persons making an application, for a certificate of naturalisation, for themselves or on behalf of a minor, are required to provide satisfactory evidence of their identity and nationality. This is usually in the form of a currently valid passport and may include other original supporting documents, such as a previously held or out of date passport, and birth certificate. The relevant application form and guidance notes detail the documents required.
In rare circumstances where an applicant cannot produce their current passport, or a previous passport if one was held, birth certificate or any other supporting documents, then the applicant will be required to provide a full explanation.
Such an explanation should be, where possible, be supported by satisfactory evidence that they have attempted to obtain such documentation and correspondence from the relevant authorities or embassy responsible for the issuing of passports and birth certificates in their country, clearly stating the reasons the documentation cannot be provided.
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.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, 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 Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.