Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 14 Dec 2000

Vol. 528 No. 3

Written Answers. - Naturalisation Applications.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

227 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the application of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will be processed; the number of similar applications which have been received in his Department in the past three years; the number that have been granted; the number that have been refused; the criteria used by him in exercising the discretion to which he refers in his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 378 of 21 November 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30157/00]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The application in question has been finalised and the person informed of my decision on 10 October 2000.

All applications for naturalisation are considered under the criteria set out in section 15 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, as amended in 1986. However, statistics are not compiled in a manner which shows the number of cases where Irish descent or Irish associations form part of the basis for the application.

The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts, 1956 and 1986, provide that the granting of a certificate of naturalisation is at my absolute discretion and I do not propose to disclose the reasons for my decision.