Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 125: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position on an application for citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14333/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The person referred to in the Deputy's question applied for a certificate of naturalisation in January 2004 and I decided to refuse the application. The reasons for my decision were disclosed to the individual concerned in a letter dated 1 December 2006. It is open to the person concerned to submit a further application at any time provided he satisfies the relevant statutory conditions applicable at that time. In doing so, however, he should give due regard to my reasons for refusing the previous application.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 126: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 228 of 17 October 2006, who the adoption society were; the information that suggests that the parents had ceded parental responsibility; the reason they say there is no evidence of this; when it is expected a response will be received from the Attorney General's office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14334/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 228 of 17 October, 2006. As I advised the Deputy at the time, while there is information on file to the effect that the child's natural parents had ceded responsibility to a UK based adoption society ( the name of which is unknown ), there is no direct evidence from the parents or adoption society to support that contention. The information on file is contained in a submission dated 8 December, 1962 to the then Minister. A copy of the said submission was supplied to the individual concerned in June, 2003. Advice has been received from the Office of the Attorney General in this case. My Department is satisfied that the granting of citizenship to the person concerned was done entirely in good faith and with the best possible intentions. Solicitor's representing the individual were advised accordingly on 5 December, 2006.

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 128: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made on an application for naturalisation by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14346/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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An application for a certificate of naturalisation was received in the Citizenship Section of my Department on 8 February 2007. Officials in that section are currently processing applications received in the latter half of 2004 and have approximately 13,100 applications on hand to be dealt with before that of 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 further processing of the application will commence in late 2009. I will inform the Deputy and the applicant when a decision has been taken in the matter.