Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 173: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the criteria which he applies when determining whether or not to grant a certificate of naturalisation pursuant to section 16(a) of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26487/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Applications for a certificate of naturalisation are considered under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. The applicant must fulfil certain Statutory requirements, including requirements in relation to residency. However, I am empowered to dispense with the statutory conditions in whole or in part in certain circumstances - for example where the applicant is of Irish descent or Irish Associations. Every such application is decided upon its individual circumstances and in accordance with the law. 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 and I decide whether to grant naturalisation based on my evaluation of the merits of the entire case as presented to me.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of occasions, in the past 24 months, on which a certificate of naturalisation has been granted under section 16(a) of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26488/09]

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 twenty four months.