Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 June 2022
395. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if she will ascertain the degree to which a person (details supplied) who has lived in this country since he was one year old and is currently awaiting the results of their application for naturalisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33553/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe residence conditions applying to any non-EEA minor under the age of 16 who is resident in the State is dependent on their parent's immigration permission in the State.
Once a non-EEA national reaches 16 years of age while resident in the State, they are required to attend at their local immigration office to register their permission and to receive an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card in their own right.
The application for naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy, continues to be processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision in due course.
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. 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.
When submitting an application for naturalisation, the onus is on the applicant to determine if they satisfy all of the eligibility criteria. Applicants are required to have five years reckonable residence in the State prior to making an application, except for spouses of Irish nationals where the requirement is three years. In both cases, the final 12 months must be continuous residence in the State with up to six weeks allowed to facilitate foreign travel for business, family or holiday purposes.
Detailed information on Irish citizenship and the naturalisation process, along with the relevant application forms and guidance notes, is available on my Department's immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/ .
