Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Naturalisation Applications

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 March 2018

Thursday, 29 March 2018

Ceisteanna (220)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

220. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if provision will be made for a person (details supplied) to apply for naturalisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14809/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that there is no record of an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the persons referred to by the Deputy.  A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the statutory criteria attendant to naturalisation can only be made after an application is received.

The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.  Section 15 of the Act provides that the Minister may, in his absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation provided certain statutory conditions as set out in the Act are fulfilled.  It is open to any individual to make an application for naturalisation if and when they are in a position to satisfy the statutory conditions.

The statutory conditions include that the applicant himself or herself must have had one year's continuous residency in the State immediately before the date of application and, during the eight years immediately preceding that period, have had a further total residence in the State amounting to four years.  Periods of residence outside the State are not reckonable for naturalisation purposes.  Every application for a certificate of naturalisation is considered on its own merits having regard to the statutory conditions set out in the Act.

Detailed information on Irish citizenship and naturalisation, as well as the relevant application form, is available on the INIS website at www.inis.gov.ie.  The website also contains guidance on the completion of an application for naturalisation and an on-line naturalisation residency calculator which individuals may find of assistance in establishing if the statutory residency requirements are met.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department 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 the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.

Barr
Roinn