Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 January 2019
133. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in the determination of eligibility for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3653/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that, in response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), written representations have been submitted on behalf of the persons concerned.
Representations received from the applicant, together with all other information and documentation on file, will be fully considered, in advance of a final decision being made.
In reference to eligibility for naturalisation the criteria is as follows; if a person has 5 years (60 months) reckonable residency on either stamp 1, stamp 3 or stamp 4 conditions it is open to them to lodge an application for a certificate of Naturalisation.
For the purpose of Naturalisation (Irish citizenship), reckonable residency (i.e. stamp 1, stamp 3 or stamp 4), is calculated by counting months of permission to remain in the State. Reckonable residency is reflected in the corresponding stamp 1, stamp 3 or stamp 4 endorsements in a person's passport. To meet the statutory residency criteria as laid out in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 (as amended), an individual needs to have 60 months (5 years) reckonable residency with the year immediately before the date of application being of continuous residency.
In making any such application it should be noted that the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 (as amended), provides that the Minister may, in his absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of Naturalisation provided certain statutory conditions are fulfilled. These conditions are that the applicant must:
- be of full age (18 years or older)
- be of good character
- have had a period of 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 total residence in the State amounting to four years
- intend in good faith to continue to reside in the State after naturalisation
- have made, either before a Judge of the District Court in open court or in such a manner as the Minister for special reasons allows, a declaration in the prescribed manner, of fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the State
Full and comprehensive information regarding Citizenship, can be found on our website, along with details of the new guidelines, application forms, fees and a naturalisation residency calculator (link provided below):
http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/Citizenship/
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.
