Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the procedure to be followed by persons (details supplied) in County Kildare who wish to apply for Irish citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21686/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy has not provided sufficient information with regard to the persons in question to enable me to give a detailed response. Consequently, I can only set out the position generally. 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. Section 16 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, provides that I may, in my absolute discretion, waive some or all of the statutory conditions in certain circumstances i.e. where an applicant is of Irish descent or of Irish associations; where an applicant is a person who is a refugee within the meaning of the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees; or where an applicant is a Stateless person within the meaning of the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Stateless persons. If the Deputy wishes to furnish further particulars officials in the Citizenship section of my Department will be happy to advise.