Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 June 2015
187. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will set out the current and expected residency status, including eligibility to re-apply for naturalisation, in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24424/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials in the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) inform me that there is no record of a current application for a certificate of naturalisation from the first person referred to in the Deputy's question, who currently has permission to remain in the State until 06 March 2016. A previous application for a certificate of naturalisation was refused for reasons provided to the person concerned in a letter issued on 30 April 2014.
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.
An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the second named person, who currently has permission to reside in the State until 17 August 2016, is at an advanced stage of processing and will be submitted to me for decision in due course.
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 I know the Deputy will appreciate that 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.
