Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 June 2012
214 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will confirm that all required documentation has been received to facilitate the eligibility of an application for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31476/12]
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 March, 2008.
The application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation. If further documentation and/or clarification of any matter related to the application is required, staff in the Citizenship Division will write to the applicant requesting it. Otherwise, he will receive a letter in due course informing him of my decision on his application.
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.
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.
215 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if and when a valid application for naturalisation will be accepted in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31477/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 124 of Thursday, 14th June 2012 which sets out the reasons why the application from the person referred to by the Deputy was refused.
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.
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.
Reply to Parliamentary Question No. 124 of Thursday, 14th June 2012:
The person referred to in the Deputy’s question currently has permission to remain in the State until 18 October 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 concerned in March, 2006.
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. The conditions are that the applicant must:—
be of full age
be of good character
have had a period of one year’s continuous residency in the State immediately before the date of application and, during the eight years immediately preceding that period, have had a total residence in the State amounting to four years
have, before a judge of the District Court in open court, in a citizenship ceremony or in such manner as the Minister, for special reasons, allows—
(i) made a declaration, in the prescribed manner, of fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the State, and
(ii) undertaken to faithfully observe the laws of the State and to respect its democratic values.
As the person referred to by the Deputy stated that he did not intend to have his usual or principal place of residence in the State after naturalisation, which is one of the statutory conditions for naturalisation, his application was deemed ineligible. The person concerned was informed of this in a letter dated 19 May 2006.
It is also 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.
216 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the procedure to be followed in order to facilitate regularisation of residency and valid application for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31478/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned and her two children had their permission to remain in the State extended for a three year period, until 14 August 2013. This decision was conveyed to the person concerned and her son, who is a minor, by letter dated 4 August 2010. The daughter of the person concerned was also notified of leave to remain in a separate letter dated 4 August 2010. This communication advised the person concerned and her daughter of the conditions attaching to their permission to remain and of the requirement that they attend at their local Garda Registration Office to have the registration process completed. One of these conditions is that the persons concerned must each be in possession of a valid passport.
The person concerned and her son registered with their local Garda Registration office and had their leave to remained renewed up to 14 August 2013. The daughter of the person concerned did not produce a valid passport and therefore could not register and was asked to return with a valid passport in order to register. It appears that she has not completed the registration process to date and it is recommended that she should attend her local Garda Registration Office with a valid passport, without further delay so that the registration process can be completed.
A valid application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's question was received in the Citizenship Division of my Department in April 2008. That Division wrote to the person concerned on 16 October, 2008 requesting she fully complete her application form and submit supporting documentation in order for her application to be processed further. In the absence of a response to a further letter dated 22 January, 2009 from the Citizenship Division the application has been deemed ineligible.
It is open to the person in question to lodge a new application for a certificate of naturalisation if and when she is in a position to meet the statutory requirements.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the 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 the INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
217 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made to date in the application for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31479/12]
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 November, 2011.
The application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation, such as good character and lawful residence, and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
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.
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.
