John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 349: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the options open to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo who is unable to obtain a passport due to the fact that they do not have a birth certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8182/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Matter relating to pensions entitlements and identity checking requirements in relation to pension application should be raised with the appropriate authorities in the United Kingdom and with the Department of Social and Family Affairs in the State.

In relation to obtaining an Irish passport, a non-Irish national can become an Irish citizen through naturalisation. 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 conditions are that the applicant must - be of full age or be a minor born in the State; be of good character; have had a period of one year's 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.

It should be noted that 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 and periods granted for the purposes of seeking recognition as a refugee within the meaning of the Refugee Act, 1996. It is open to the person concerned to lodge an application for a certificate of naturalisation if and when he is in a position to meet the statutory requirements. Further information and application forms are available on the Department's website http://www.inis.gov.ie.