Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 23 Feb 1995

Vol. 449 No. 6

Written Answers. - Naturalisation Applications.

Michael McDowell

Ceist:

63 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications for naturalisation under the business immigration scheme approved in 1994; the number of these which were promulgated in Iris Oifigiúil; the date of approval of each application and the dates on which corresponding publication took place in Iris Oifigiúil; the reason certain existing certificates were republished in Iris Oifigiúil; the number of applications under the business migration scheme now pending or awaiting decision; and if she will make a statement on the operation of the scheme. [4174/95]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

Details sought by the Deputy are as follows:

Number of Certificates Issued	Date of Issue	Date details placed in Iris Oifigiúil
seven	May 1994	August 1994
one	August 1994
one	October 1994	December 1994
eight	November 1994

Details about the address of two persons who were granted naturalisation in December 1992 were republished inIris Oifigiúil in December 1994 because the address published for them in a 1993 edition of Iris Oifigiúil was incomplete due to an oversight by my Department.

At the moment, 17 applications for naturalisation on foot of investment in the State, are awaiting finalisation in my Department. Thirteen of these applications are from the group of 29 cases referred to in answer to Question No. 34 of 25 October 1994. It was indicated in answer to that question that the then Minister for Justice, following advice from the then Attorney General and confirmed by the current Attorney General, was legally bound to grant these applications provided all the necessary conditions were met. One of this group of 29 has withdrawn his application and I have granted naturalisation to a further 6, in line with the legal obligation.

The outgoing Government put in place revised guidelines, as outlined in the Dáil, on 25 October 1994. I am carrying out a review of the scheme as promised in the programme for renewal and will be bringing a report to Government shortly.