Written answers
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Citizenship Applications
9:00 am
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in respect of applications for citizenship in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32758/09]
Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Applications for certificates of naturalisation from the first and second named persons referred to in the Deputy's Question were received in the Citizenship Division of my Department in November 2006 and January 2007. I decided to defer making any final decision in both cases until June 2010. The persons in question were notified of this position and the reasons for it in letters issued on 24 June, 2009.
Applications for certificates of naturalisation from the third and fourth named persons referred to in the Deputy's Question were received in the Citizenship Division of my Department in November 2006. On examination of both applications it was determined that both applicants did not meet the residency requirements as set out in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, as amended. The persons in question were informed of this in letters issued to them on 14 March, 2007.
It is open to the persons concerned to lodge new applications for certificates of naturalisation to the Citizenship Division of my Department if and when they are in a position to meet the statutory requirements.
Renee Jenkins
Posted on 10 Oct 2009 10:04 am (Report this comment)
The deferment of applications for the persons 1 and 2. We have been in this country for over 8 years in which time we have obeyed all rules and regulations. We are actively involved in our Church and committees. We started a business in 2004 and employed EU nationals. We have an Irish born child. We have bought a house. When the recession hit, we were affected badly like many others. Why are we being discriminated against because of bad times. We are trying to find employment. This is our home, our country. We have no where else to go. Are we not good enough to be citizens of Ireland? How can any person in your department make a decision and they haven't even met us. It has taken over 3 years to make your decision and you do not know what we look like, how we speak. The only place we can visit without a visa is South Africa.
We are beginning to feel like we are in prison and will only be let out with a good behaviour pass. Is this really how you want residents in Ireland to feel? We have lived for so long not knowing where we belong. We thought we belonged here, but now we don't know and your department is not helping. Basic rules can apply to most applications but not all and some need to be looked at with discretion and maybe some investigation, eg. contacting people that know us, like the minister of our church, friends, teachers, etc. Have we not proven after so long that we want to be here? Would we have bought a house if we didn't want to be here? We just ask that someone see us for who we are and not just an application. We eat, sleep and breathe like you do and I believe we deserve a chance like you and your colleagues all do. Please listen to our requests.