Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 October 2014
297. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applicants for Irish naturalisation approved for persons not currently resident here; and of these the number of same-sex couples. [38120/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 15 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, provides that the I may, in my absolute discretion, grant an application for 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
- intend in good faith to continue to reside in the State after naturalisation
- 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.
A foreign national who is married to, or is the civil partner of, an Irish citizen for at least three years may apply for naturalisation under section 15A of the Irish Naturalisation and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, where they have been continuously resident in the island of Ireland for the year immediately prior to the date of their application and for two out of the four years prior to that year. The marriage or civil partnership must be subsisting and recognised under Irish law. Section 15A provides that the Minister may waive certain conditions for naturalisation if satisfied that the applicant would suffer serious consequences in respect of his or her bodily integrity or liberty if not granted Irish citizenship.
Section 16 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, provides that I may, in my absolute discretion, waive some or all of the statutory conditions in certain circumstances e.g. where an applicant is of Irish descent or of Irish associations; where an applicant is a person who is a refugee within the meaning of the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees; where an applicant is a Stateless person within the meaning of the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Stateless persons; or where the application is made on behalf of the minor child of a naturalised Irish citizen.
Officials in the citizenship section of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service prepare a comprehensive submission to me in respect of each application for naturalisation. This submission addresses any claims for the exercise of my discretion in areas such as Irish descent or Irish associations. I decide whether to grant naturalisation based on my evaluation of the merits of the entire case as presented to me. Statistics are therefore not compiled in such a manner as to provide the information sought by the Deputy.
