Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 305: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the procedure involved for a person aged 18 years to obtain nationality in view of the fact that they have lived here for the past eight years and want to make this State their permanent home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25079/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, provides that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform may, in his absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation provided certain statutory conditions are fulfilled. The standard conditions for a person aged 18 years are that they must: 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.

Section 16 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, provides that the Minister may, in his absolute discretion, waive some or all of the statutory conditions in certain circumstances i.e. where an applicant is of Irish descent or of Irish associations; where an applicant is a person who is a refugee within the meaning of the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees; or where an applicant is a Stateless person within the meaning of the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Stateless persons.

It is open to the person concerned to lodge an application for a certificate of naturalisation with the citizenship Division of my Department if and when they are in a position to meet the statutory requirements.