Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 May 2016
25. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of an application for residency status and eligibility for naturalisation of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10743/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned has made an application for a certificate of naturalisation. The processing of the application is ongoing with a view to establishing whether the conditions for naturalisation, such as good character and lawful residence are satisfied. All non-EEA nationals are required to keep their permission to remain in the State up to date at all times and failure to do so may adversely affect an application for a certificate of naturalisation.
The person concerned was granted a 3 month temporary permission to remain in the State on 5 May 2016 to facilitate him in order to update his passport. He should contact his Embassy in London regarding the process to apply for and collect his passport, after which he can apply to renew his registration and have a GNIB Card issued.
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 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.
