John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when an application for citizenship-approval of stamp four will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9604/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Officials in the citizenship section of my Department have informed me that there is no record of an application for Irish citizenship having been received from the person referred to by the Deputy.

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, including where the applicant has had a period of one year's continuous residency in the State immediately before the date of the application and, during the eight years immediately preceding that period, has had a total residence in the State amounting to four years.

The person concerned was granted permission to remain in the State in November 2001 on the basis of having a work permit. His current permission expires in January 2007 and, if he renews this permission in February 2007, he will meet the statutory residency criteria to apply for a certificate of naturalisation at that time. Any such application will be examined in accordance with the statutory provisions in place at the time.

Officials in the immigration division of my Department have informed me that there is no record of the person concerned applying to have his existing permission amended or to obtain further permission to remain in the State.