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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 10 Dec 1998

Vol. 498 No. 3

Written Answers - Citizenship Applications.

Ceist:

155 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if persons (details supplied) will be given Irish citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27154/98]

Irish nationality and citizenship legislation provides that persons born in Ireland are automatically Irish citizens. The first person detailed by the Deputy is therefore an Irish citizen. There does not appear to be a record of applications for citizenship having been received in my Department from or on behalf of the other two persons detailed by the Deputy.

In general, there are three ways in which a person who is not a citizen of Ireland can obtain Irish citizenship: by descent — foreign births registration, by naturalisation or by marriage to an Irish citizen — post-nuptial citizenship.

The conditions governing the acquisition of Irish citizenship through the three methods mentioned above are set out in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, as amended in 1986 and, if the persons detailed are satisfied that they fulfil the criteria, it is open to them to make an application to my Department or to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

In so far as the question of permission to remain as the parents of an Irish citizen is concerned, this case is one of a number currently under consideration in my Department and I hope to be in a position to make decisions on these applications by early next year.

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