Written answers
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Citizenship Applications
9:00 pm
Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 243: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason for the delay in granting citizenship in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17766/10]
Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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A valid application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's Question was received in the Citizenship Division of my Department in April 2008.
All valid applications are dealt with in chronological order as this is deemed to be the fairest to all applicants. The average processing time from application to decision is now at 26 months. More complicated cases can at times take more than the current average, while an element of straight forward cases can be dealt with in less than that timescale. Officials in the Citizenship Division inform me that processing of the application is ongoing and the file will be submitted to me for a decision in due course.
The length of time taken to process each application should not be classified as a delay, as the length of time taken for any application to be decided is purely a function of the time taken to carry out necessary checks. There is a limit to the reduction in the processing time that can be achieved as applications for naturalisation must be processed in a way which preserves the necessary checks and balances to ensure that it is not undervalued and is only given to persons who genuinely satisfy the necessary qualifying criteria.
Comments
Khalid Abbas
Posted on 13 May 2010 4:22 pm (Report this comment)
I wish things were as simple and straightforward as they say.
Me and my wife applied in April 2006.
Last year in January Dept. asked for many documents again and we provided them.
No news since then.
They told me over the phone 5-6 months ago that my application is ready and they are waiting for Garda Report on my Wife. Then they discontinued the phone service.
On one hand they say each case is different and on the other hand they have stopped my application just because they are waiting for Garda report on my wife.
There are many friends of mine who are facing the same thing i.e waiting for Garda report.
For the moment there is no light at the end of this tunnel...
Sargon Aram
Posted on 14 May 2010 12:46 pm (Report this comment)
I regret to say that, but it is clear to me that people with perceived Arab/Islamic background have been singled out for extravagant delay in the naturalisation process.
Other applications from spouses of Eastern European, African, and Latin American... etc backgrounds seem to be treated more favourably.
This is insulting not only to me as a tax payer with strong family and blood ties to Ireland, but also to my wife whose marriage and family have been treated as less significant to other marriages and other Irish families.
I personally worked with the Irish Army as a Civilian Instructor and have applied to Join An Garda Siochana. I have given Ireland a substantial contribution both financially and professionally.
The whole business of ethnic profiling, which is very likely to be the case, is an absolute shock to me.
Sargon Aram
Posted on 3 Aug 2010 12:34 pm (Report this comment)
As for today the latest update I requested stated that my application is "ongoing" already two months over average (non-expedited) applications.
The local Kebeb shop waiter who has no English nor ties to Ireland recieved his naturalisation certificate recently within the average time!
I'm absolutely puzzled!!!
Sargon Aram
Posted on 7 May 2010 1:02 am (Report this comment)
This is the application of a spouse of an Irish Citizen (my application, from Loughrea Co. Galway). It is interesting how the Minister did not refer to that in his reply. it is also interesting how he does not refer to his regular statement that certain categories of applicants are dealt with more expeditiously, including spouses of Irish citizens.
The average processing time is 26 months and I applied 25 months ago. It is clear that my file is not with the minister yet (still ongoing with INIS). According to INIS it takes 6-8 weeks at the minister office to reach a decision that makes it over the average time, even if my file will be forwarded to the Minister tomorrow, for someone according to the Minister himself, is dealt with more expeditiously. (I refer to his numerous statements poster on this website)
I hold two Masters including a Master of Laws degree from NUI, I never received a single Euro from the state, Work full time 45000 pa, never been to the attention of the Guardi (except for applying to join an Garda Siochana). my wife is born and bred Irish and so is my 5 years old daughter. would that be straightforward enough?
I know many people with no or little English, no Irish connection like my obvious case, contributing a fraction of my contribution to the state who had their applications approved before me.
Meanwhile, mine is "ongoing".