Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 May 2012
160 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if and when an application for naturalisation might be considered eligible in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26104/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that an application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy in July, 2009.
Section 15 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, as amended, provides that the Minister may, in his absolute discretion, grant a certificate of naturalisation provided certain statutory conditions are fulfilled. One such condition is that the applicant intends in good faith to continue to reside in the State after naturalisation. As the person referred to by the Deputy did not confirm on her application form that she intended to reside in the State after naturalisation, one of the Statutory conditions for naturalisation, her application was deemed ineligible. The person concerned was informed of this in a letter dated 27 July 2009.
It is open to any individual to lodge an application for citizenship if and when they are in a position to meet the prescribed statutory requirements.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
161 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current progress and position regarding determination of eligibility for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26105/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials in the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Services (INIS) inform me that there is no record of an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the second and third named persons referred to in the Deputy's question. It is open to any individual to lodge an application for citizenship if and when they are in a position to meet the statutory requirements as prescribed in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 as amended.
I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 1013 of Wednesday, 18 April 2012. The position remains as stated in respect of the first named person.
Reply to Parliamentary Question 1013 of 18 April 2012
I am advised by the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that an application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy in September, 2011. The application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
162 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made to date in the determination of entitlement to naturalisation and update on Stamp 4 in the interim in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 18; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26107/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that a valid application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy in April, 2011.
The application is at an advanced stage of processing and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. Considerable resources are deployed to process applications and these resources together with the necessary administrative arrangements are kept under review.
As well as being a significant event in the life of its recipient, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation as provided for in law is also a major step for the State which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
The person concerned arrived in the State accompanied by her father in March 2000. The father was granted permission to remain in the State in 2002 under the arrangements then in place for the non-EEA parents of Irish born children. Minor children under the age of sixteen, who are resident in the State and are in the care of non-EEA parents who have been granted permission to remain, avail of the same permission to remain as their parents. The person concerned was granted permission to remain in the State on 17 May, 2002 initially on Stamp 2 conditions and subsequently on Stamp 4 conditions. I am informed that this permission is currently valid until 17 January, 2013.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
