Naturalisation Certificates

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2015

Thursday, 5 March 2015

Ceisteanna (146)

Ruth Coppinger

Ceist:

146. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 319 of 24 February 2015, and in view of there being no registration fees to the Garda National Immigration Bureau for European Union, European Economic Area and Swiss nationals living here, her views that the application fee, and fee for the certificate of naturalisation, is a barrier to access to citizenship for these nationals living here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9717/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

The position as set out in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 319 of 24 February 2015 applies in respect of EU/EEA/Swiss nationals also. I do not accept that citizens of these countries are less able to pay naturalisation fees than nationals of other countries. The Deputy may wish to note that there has been an substantial increase in the number of EU/EEA/Swiss nationals applying for and being granted Irish citizenship over the past 3 years.