Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 20 Mar 2002

Vol. 550 No. 4

Written Answers. - Citizenship Applications.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

580 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will be entitled to Irish citizenship; if so, the way in which this person can make an application for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8367/02]

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

It appears from the information supplied by the Deputy that the person referred to is eligible to apply for citizenship through either the naturalisation or post-nuptial processes. I have set out below some general information about these two methods of acquiring Irish citizenship.

Post-Nuptial CitizenshipA non-national married to a person who is an Irish citizen, otherwise than by naturalisation, post-nuptial declaration or honorary citizenship, may accept Irish citizenship as his or her post-nuptial citizenship, by lodging a declaration not earlier than three years from the date of the marriage or three years from the date the applicant's spouse became an Irish citizen, whichever is the later. The marriage must be subsisting and the couple must be living together as husband and wife at the time of application.

NaturalisationThe Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, as amended in 1986, provides that the Minister for Justice may grant a certificate of naturalisation at his or her absolute discretion. The applicant has to fulfil certain statutory requirements including being of good character and having a total of five years residency in the State in the nine year period preceding the date of the application. The Act also empowers the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to dispense with the statutory conditions in whole or in part, in certain specific circumstances, for example if the applicant is of Irish descent or has Irish associations. More detailed information on citizenship matters and any relevant application forms can be obtained by telephoning the citizenship helpline, telephone no. 01-602 8202, on any Tuesday and Thursday morning between the hours of 10 a.m. and 12:30 pm.

The current average processing times are 15 months and six months for applications of naturalisation and post-nuptial citizenship respectively.