Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1190: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the processing time for long term residency applications as of the date that the €500 fee was introduced and the current processing time. [33984/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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A fee of €500 for the initial grant of long term residency status was introduced with effect from 7 September 2009. The processing time for Long-Term Residency applications at that date was approximately 21 months. The current processing time is approximately 12 months.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1191: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform his views on whether the exclusion of periods of residency in the six counties for naturalisation applicants other than those married to Irish citizens runs contrary to the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement; his plans to change this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33985/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, sets out the current law governing naturalisation in the State including provisions setting out the qualifying periods of residence for the purpose of naturalisation. The provisions contained in the Act would have been brought forward with due regard to the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement. While I have no current proposals to amend the provisions in this regard, the Deputy may wish to be aware that, as I have previously indicated to the House, a general review of the legislative framework for the acquisition of citizenship is underway in my Department.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1192: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform if civil partners of Irish citizens may include periods of residency in the six counties as part of their reckonable residency for the purpose of naturalisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33986/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, provides that the Minister for Justice and Law Reform may, in his absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation provided certain statutory conditions are fulfilled. In the case of an applicant who is the spouse of an Irish citizen those conditions are that the applicant must—

be of full age

be of good character

be married to the Irish citizen for at least 3 years

be in a marriage recognised under the laws of the State as subsisting

be living together as husband and wife with the Irish spouse

have had a period of one year's continuous residency in the island of Ireland immediately before the date of the application and, during the four years immediately preceding that period, have had a total residence in the island of Ireland amounting to two years.

intend in good faith to continue to reside in the island of Ireland 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 is a requirement for all other applicants that they have residency in the State.