Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 January 2015
146. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a satisfactory response has been received from a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if it is acceptable that all penalties have been satisfactorily discharged in accordance with the requirements in that letter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2093/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that a valid application for a certificate of naturalisation has been received from the person referred to by the Deputy.
As the Deputy will appreciate, 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. Certain information was requested from the applicant and a response has been received. A letter has issued to the person concerned requesting additional information. When a response has been received, the case will be finalised and submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
The Deputy may wish to note that 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 established specifically 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.
