Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 211: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the procedure persons (details supplied) in County Cork must enter into to become Irish citizens. [18198/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, as amended, provides that the Minister may, in his absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation provided certain statutory conditions are fulfilled. These conditions are that the applicant must: be of full age, or by way of exception, be a minor born in the State; be of good character; have had a period of one year's continuous residency in the State immediately before the date of application and, during the eight years immediately preceding that period, have had a total residence in the State amounting to four years; intend in good faith to continue to reside in the State after naturalisation; and have made, either before a Judge of the District Court in open court or in such a manner as the Minister for special reasons allows, a declaration in the prescribed manner, of fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the State.

Should the persons concerned have any further query, the Citizenship Section of my Department operates a telephone helpline on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 10.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and can be contacted on (01) 6167700 or Lo — Call 1890 551 500. The information can also be accessed on the Department's website www.justice.ie.