Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 255: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a person (details supplied) in County Dublin qualifies for Irish citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2964/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 2004, which commenced on 1 January 2005, provides that certain non-nationals are required to be resident in the island of Ireland for a three year period prior to the birth of their child, for that child to be entitled to Irish citizenship. This altered the previous situation whereby a child born in the island of Ireland was automatically entitled to Irish citizenship.

Section 4 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 2004 excludes certain types of residency, and these depend, in part, on the nationality of the parent during that period of residence. Periods of unlawful residence and periods of lawful residence for the purpose of study or as an asylum applicant are not reckonable for that purpose.

The Deputy has not provided sufficient information in regard to the person in question to enable me to give a detailed response. However, if the Deputy wishes to furnish further particulars, officials in the Citizenship Section of my Department will be happy to advise.