Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 69: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to examine rights to Irish citizenship for members of the Irish diaspora across the world including allowing those of Irish descent back many generations to avail of Irish citizenship. [10102/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy will be aware that there is already considerable scope for members of the Irish diaspora to claim Irish citizenship. A person whose great grandparent was born in Ireland may qualify for Irish citizenship by descent if one of the parents has registered their name in the Foreign Births Register prior to the person's birth. Responsibility for the Foreign Births Register falls under the auspices of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The requirements for the granting of citizenship are set out in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts 1956-2004. Given the extensive provisions which already exist, I have no plans at present to examine this matter.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 70: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding naturalisation applications in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Tipperary; when a decision will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10078/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Officials in the Citizenship section of my Department inform me that there is no record of an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the persons referred to in the Deputy's question.

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

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

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

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

periods granted for the purposes of seeking recognition as a refugee within the meaning of the Refugee Act, 1996.

It is open to any individual to lodge an application for citizenship if and when they are in a position to meet the statutory requirements as prescribed in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 as amended.

I should remind the Deputy that queries in relation to the status of individual Immigration cases may be made direct to INIS by Email using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. The service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek this information through the more administratively expensive Parliamentary Questions process.