Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 321: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he will be prepared to accept a new application for naturalisation in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29122/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 366: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason an application for citizenship has been refused in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29168/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 321 and 366 together.

The persons referred to in the Deputy's question arrived in the State in 1997 and sought asylum. They subsequently withdrew their applications before a decision was reached and sought permission to remain on foot of their parentage of a child born in Ireland. Such permission was granted in August 1999.

In December 2002, both of the persons in question applied for naturalisation. However, it appears that they changed address since lodging their applications but did not inform officials in the Citizenship section of my Department of this change until October 2005. Consequently, all correspondence sent by my officials to the persons in question was returned unopened during that period.

The applications were submitted to me for a decision in February 2006 and I decided to refuse both applications. The reasons for my decision were disclosed to the persons concerned in letters dated 18 April 2006. It is open to the persons in question to submit further applications provided they satisfy the statutory conditions at that time.