Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 163: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a naturalisation application will be reviewed in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23571/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's Question was received in the Citizenship Division of my Department in December 2006.

The Minister has the power to grant certificates of naturalisation to applicants who comply with certain conditions under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, as amended. Section 15A of the Act provides that the Minister may grant a certificate of naturalisation to the non-national spouse of an Irish citizen if, among other things, the applicant has been married to that citizen for a period of not less than three years.

On examination of the application submitted by the person concerned it was determined that she had not been married for three years at the date of application, therefore her application was deemed ineligible. The person in question was informed of this in a letter issued to her on 8 January, 2007. It is open to the person concerned to lodge a new application if and when she is in a position to meet the statutory requirements.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 164: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in relation to the application for family reunification in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23572/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the INIS (Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service) of my Department that the person in question made an application for Family Reunification in respect of his wife in May 2008.

This application was forwarded to the Refugee Applications Commissioner for investigation as required under section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996. This investigation is complete and the Commissioner has forwarded a report to the INIS. This application will be considered by the INIS and a decision will issue in due course. At present, applications are taking approximately twenty-four months to process.