Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 201: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the extent to which the application for naturalisation has been progressed in the case of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19291/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I have approved the application for a certificate of naturalisation of the first named person. A letter informing him of this issued, via his solicitor, on 7 April 2009. A certificate of naturalisation will issue on receipt of the documentation requested. With regards to the second individual mentioned, I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question 348 on 18 November 2008.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 202: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the current or previous criteria applicable to EU nationals seeking Irish citizenship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19292/09]

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. The same criteria applies to all applicants. The conditions are that the applicant must -

• be of full age

• be of good character

• have had a period of one yearâ€TMs 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

• 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

In the context of naturalisation, certain periods of residence in the State are excluded. These include -

• periods of residence in respect of which an applicant does not have permission to remain in the State

• periods granted for the purposes of study

• periods granted for the purposes of seeking recognition as a refugee within the meaning of the Refugee Act, 1996