Written answers

Thursday, 23 November 2006

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Citizenship Applications

5:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 136: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath will meet the necessary residency requirements to qualify for naturalisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39836/06]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's question was received in the Citizenship section of my Department on 7 June 2006. An examination of his application revealed that he did not have 5 years reckonable residency in the State prior to him submitting the application. He was informed of this on 21 October 2006.

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform may, in his absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation provided certain statutory conditions are fulfilled. One of these conditions is that 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.

In the context of determining if an applicant meets the residence requirement for naturalisation, certain periods of residence in the State must be excluded. These include

periods of residence in respect of which an applicant does not have permission to remain in the State

periods granted for the purposes of study and

periods granted for the purposes of seeking recognition as a refugee within the meaning of the Refugee Act, 1996.

A fresh application may be submitted when the individual concerned fulfils the aforementioned criteria.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 137: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 97 of 9 November 2006, in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24 to the effect that there is no record that any original documentation accompanied the application for naturalisation of the person in question, and in view of the fact that his Department required the original documentation which was supplied, if he will arrange for the return of this documentation after examination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39837/06]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 97 on 9 November, 2006 and can confirm that no original documentation accompanied the application for naturalisation in this case.

Separately however, the individual concerned submitted her travel document to the General Immigration Office at 13/14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2 for renewal in July of this year. This document has now been renewed and will be returned to the person involved.

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