Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 October 2016
59. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if a person (details supplied), who has been in this jurisdiction for more than five years, now qualifies for extended residency or eligibility for naturalisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32470/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that there is no record of a person registered, or of an application for a certificate of naturalisation, under the details as provided by the Deputy. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the appropriate criteria attendant to extended residency or a naturalisation can only be made after an application is received.
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. Detailed information on Irish citizenship and naturalisation is available on the INIS website at www.inis.gov.ie. The website also contains an on-line naturalisation residency calculator which individuals may find of assistance in establishing if the residency requirements are met.
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 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.
