Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 228: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the case of a person (details supplied) on whose behalf application for Irish citizenship was made on 18 December 1962, indication was given as to whether the person or persons sponsoring the application were relatives or had the permission of the child's mother; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32678/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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As was advised to the Deputy in a written reply to a Parliamentary Question on 1 December 2004, all of the Department's records on this matter were supplied to the individual concerned in June 2003, on foot of a request under the Freedom of Information Act.

On the basis of the information contained in those records — which cover the period 1961 to 1963 — there is no evidence to suggest that the persons sponsoring the application for naturalisation were relatives of the child. While there is information on file to the effect that the child's natural parents had ceded parental responsibility to a UK based adoption society, there is no direct evidence from the parents or adoption society to support that contention.