Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will support a case (details supplied). [37747/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, 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. In the case of a non national applicant who is the spouse of an Irish citizen, those conditions are that the applicant must:

be of full age

be of good character

be married to the Irish Citizen for at least three years

be in a marriage recognised under the laws of the state as subsisting

be living together as husband and wife with the Irish Spouse

have had a period of one year's continuous residency on the island of Ireland immediately before the date of the application and during the four years immediately preceding that period, have had a total residence in the State amounting to two years

intend in good faith to continue to reside in the State after naturalisation

have made, either before a Judge of the District Court in open Court or in such manner as the Minister, for special reasons allows, a declaration in the prescribed manner, of fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the State

The Deputy will appreciate that the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is an honour. In order to maintain the integrity of the naturalisation process, I do not believe that the periods of residence and marriage for spouses of Irish Citizens, as specified in that Act, warrant any change.