Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 477: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of times in the past five years that he has exercised his discretion under section 16(a) of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 to waive the statutory naturalisation requirements for persons of Irish descent or associations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15798/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Officials in my Department prepare a comprehensive submission to me in respect of each application for naturalisation. This submission addresses any claims for the exercise of my discretion in areas such as Irish descent and Irish associations. I decide whether to grant naturalisation based on my evaluation of the merits of the entire case as presented to me. Statistics are therefore not compiled in such a manner as to provide data on the number of times I have exercised my discretion under Section 16(a) of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, as amended, in the past five years.