An 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 on 18 February 2005. On examination of that application it was determined that the person concerned did not satisfy the statutory residency requirements as set out in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. A letter informing the applicant of this was issued on 10 January 2006 and the applicant was also invited to lodge a new application.
A new application was lodged by the person in question under his existing reference number on 21 January 2006 and on examination of this application it was determined that the person concerned still did not satisfy the statutory residency requirements as set out in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. A letter informing the applicant of this was issued on 23 April 2008 and the applicant was once again invited to make a new application under his existing reference number. The purpose of this letter was to ensure that the person concerned would not lose his place in the processing queue. This application was lodged on 10 July 2008.
Officials in the Citizenship Section of my Department inform me that processing of this application has commenced and the file will be forwarded to me for a decision in the coming months.