Vol. 523 No. 1
954 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will outline the requirements needed and the steps which should be taken by a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath, a Portuguese national, to acquire a certificate of naturalisation in view of the fact he has been residing here for the past nine years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20717/00]
The conditions for the granting by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform of a certificate of naturalisation, in his absolute discretion, are set out in section 15 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, as amended in 1986. The conditions are that the applicant is of full age; is of good character; has had a period of one year's continuous residence in the State immediately before the date of the application and, during the eight years immediately preceding that period, has had a total residence in the State amounting to four years; intends in good faith to continue to reside in the State after naturalisation; and has made, either before a Justice of the District Court in open court or in such manner as the Minister, for special reasons, allows, a declaration in the prescribed manner, of fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the State.
The applicant should contact the citizenship division of my Department, telephone number 01-6028415, on either a Tuesday or a Thursday between the hours of 10 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. My officials will send him an application form for naturalisation together with an explanatory leaflet detailing the required supporting documentation.
