Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 April 2015
343. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current residency status of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; if an application for citizenship can be facilitated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14100/15]
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, who currently has permission to reside in the State until 10 June, 2015. My predecessor decided to defer a final decision on this application for 18 months. The person concerned was notified of this decision and the reasons for it in a letter issued on 27 June, 2013.
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. Processing of the application is ongoing and the case will be re-submitted for final 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.
