Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2017
723. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) who arrived here in May 2008 and is unable to obtain a passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26816/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issuing of Irish passports is a matter for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and is based on the person being an Irish citizen. The granting of Irish citizenship through the naturalisation process is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
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.
Applicants for a certificate of naturalisation are required, amongst other things, to provide satisfactory evidence of their identity and nationality in the form of a currently valid passport, and may include other original supporting documents, such as a birth certificate and marriage certificate. In rare circumstances where an applicant cannot produce their passport or other supporting documents the applicant will be required to provide a full explanation. Such explanations should be supported by satisfactory evidence that they have attempted to obtain such documentation and correspondence from the relevant authorities responsible for the issuing of passports in their country, clearly stating the reasons the documentation cannot be provided. INIS will consider the reasons given and, if satisfied it is for reasons genuinely beyond the applicant's control, may consider alternative means to assist in establishing identity and nationality.
An application for naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was deemed ineligible for reasons stated in a letter issued to their legal representative on 30 January 2017. The fact that a person may have had an application refused does not however preclude or disqualify them from submitting a fresh application in the future. When considering making such a re-application, due regard should be given to the reasons for the refusal which were contained in the refusal letter and that any further application will be considered taking into account all statutory and administrative conditions applicable at the time of application.
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.
