Vol. 531 No. 2
188 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when it is viable for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare to apply for naturalisation or citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5306/01]
An application for a certificate of naturalisation may be made provided the applicant fulfils the statutory conditions as set out in section 15 of the Irish Nationality and Citizen ship 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 a 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 person referred to by the Deputy may contact the telephone helpline in the citizenship division of my Department, telephone No. 01-6028202, on either a Tuesday or a Thursday morning between 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.
