Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 April 2008
908 Deputy Brian O’Shea asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when naturalisation will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12100/08]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's Question was received in the Citizenship section of my Department in June 2007.
Officials in that section are currently processing applications received in August 2005 and have approximately 12,000 applications on hand to be dealt with before that of the person in question. These are generally dealt with in chronological order as this is deemed to be the fairest to all applicants.
However, I understand that the person concerned is a refugee. In accordance with the Government's obligations under the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, every effort is made to ensure that applications from persons with refugee status are dealt with as quickly as possible, having regard to the general volume of applications on hand. It is likely, therefore, that further processing of the application will commence in early 2009. I will inform the Deputy and the individual in question when I have reached a decision on the matter.
