Peadar Tóibín
Question:388. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice how many people who have been issued with a deportation order have subsequently been naturalised. [53371/23]
View answerTuesday, 5 December 2023
Questions (388)
Written answers
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. The specific information requested by the Deputy is not currently compiled in the format required, however, I can advise him that where an applicant for naturalisation has an extant deportation order they would not be naturalised.
Applicants are required to have 5 years reckonable residence in the State prior to making an application, except for spouses of Irish nationals and people granted International Protection where the requirement is 3 years. In all cases, the final 12 months must be continuous residence in the State with up to 70 days allowed to facilitate foreign travel for business family or holiday purposes.
All applicants must also satisfy the good character criterion under Section 15 of the Act, which includes checks for criminality. As part of this, all applicants undergo Garda vetting.
It is open to anyone to make an application for citizenship once they meet the criteria as set out in the 1956 Act, as amended. Once an application is received, a determination on whether the applicant satisfies the statutory criteria for naturalisation will be made.