Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 126: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason a financial discrepancy exists between the cost of applying for Irish citizenship as the spouse of an Irish citizen and as an EU citizen who has been resident here for five years (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36335/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Fees) Regulations, 1993, as amended in 1996, sets out the fees payable by various categories of persons who obtain Irish citizenship. The standard fee for naturalisation is €634.87. Exceptions are made in the case of a spouse of a naturalised Irish citizen; the non-national widow or widower of an Irish citizen; or a non-national minor child of an Irish Citizen, all of whom pay €126.97. In the case of Convention refugees, programme refugees and stateless persons, no fee is payable.

I agree that the situation regarding fees for spouses of Irish citizens is anomalous and work is already underway to address this situation.