Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, arising from his discretionary refusal to grant naturalisation in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare who are effectively stateless persons born in Latvia in the former USSR of Russian ancestry, fail to qualify for Russian or Latvian citizenship, have lived here for circa 12 years and who are deemed ineligible for naturalisation on the basis that they have received a social welfare payment; if he will review this case in view of these circumstances with a view to addressing the issues arising under international law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20899/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I have adopted a general policy that I will normally require an applicant for naturalisation, unless he/she is a refugee, programme refugee or Stateless person, to show that he/she has supported him or herself (and his or her family if appropriate) while residing in the State and, as far as can be determined, is in a position to continue that support into the future. I am, generally speaking, satisfied to accept that an applicant is self supporting if there is no evidence that he or she has accessed State support in the 3 year period prior to the date of application or subsequently and has satisfied officials that they have supported themselves independently in that period. The persons mentioned in the Deputy's Question both availed of State support in the three year period prior to the date of application or subsequently. Consequently, I refused their applications.