Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will introduce a system whereby applicants for naturalisation will be given temporary status to live and work in the State without requiring additional permission while they wait the two years for his Department to decide on their application. [9874/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have no proposals to introduce a system on the lines proposed by the Deputy. The grant of a certificate of naturalisation is generally predicated on five years lawful residence in the State — excluding periods granted for the purpose of seeking asylum or for the purpose of study. Persons who have been legally resident in the State for over five years on the basis of employment permit conditions may apply to the immigration division of my Department at 13/14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2, for a residency extension and in that context may also apply to be exempted from employment permit requirements. This applies regardless of whether the person in question has applied for a certificate of naturalisation.