Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020
938. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the progress to date in the determination of an application for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied); when the application will conclude; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21959/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person referred to by the Deputy has very recently made an application for citizenship through the naturalisation process. This application will be processed with a view to establishing if the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation. The application will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
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 it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. All applications are processed in chronological order from the date that they are received. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by email 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 email service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
