Written answers

Tuesday, 24 April 2007

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Citizenship Applications

11:00 pm

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 105: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when Irish citizenship by naturalisation will be approved for persons (details supplied) in County Mayo. [14135/07]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Applications for certificates of naturalisation from the persons referred to were received in the Citizenship section of my Department on 1 June 2005.

Section 15 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, as amended, requires that an applicant must have 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, have had a total residence in the State amounting to four years.

On examination of the applications, it was determined that the individuals concerned did not satisfy the above requirements. Letters informing them of this were issued in June 2005. The second named person subsequently forwarded documentation to show that she had since met the statutory requirements. Her application was accepted and was assigned its original reference number.

The first named individual made a new application for naturalisation which was received in the Citizenship section on 7 February 2006. On examination of this application it was determined that the person concerned now met the statutory requirements and his application was placed in chronological order.

Officials in Citizenship section are currently processing applications received in the latter half of 2004. There are approximately 2,000 applications to be dealt with before that of second named person and 5,500 applications before the first named person. It is likely, therefore, that further processing of the applications will commence in late 2007 and mid 2008 respectively. I will inform the Deputy and the persons in question when I have reached a decision on the applications.

Photo of Cecilia KeaveneyCecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 106: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in relation to an application for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14145/07]

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 was received in the Citizenship Section of my Department on 7 December 2006.

Applications received in the latter half of 2004 are currently being processed and there are approximately 11,700 applications on hand to be dealt with before the person in question. These are generally dealt with in chronological order as this is deemed to be the fairest to all applicants. It is likely, therefore, that the application will be submitted to me for a decision by mid 2009.

I will inform the Deputy and the person concerned when I have reached a decision on the application.

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