Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 238: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding an application for naturalisation in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18327/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Applications for certificates of naturalisation from the individuals referred to in the Deputy's Question were received in the Citizenship Section of my Department in April 2006. Officials in that Section are currently processing applications received in the latter half of 2004 and have approximately 6,900 applications on hand to be dealt with before those of the persons concerned. These are generally dealt with in chronological order as this is deemed to be the fairest to all applicants. However, I understand that the individuals concerned are refugees and in accordance with the Government's obligations under the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees every effort is made to ensure that applications from persons with refugee status are dealt with as quickly as possible. It is likely, therefore, that the applications will be submitted to me for a decision by late 2007.