Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 640: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding persons who are living legally here for some years and have been working here and have applied for a certificate of naturalisation and later lose their job; if this affects the naturalisation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23152/11]

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

All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually under the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. Section 15 of the Act provides that the Minister may, in his absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation provided certain statutory conditions are fulfilled. In particular, these conditions require that an applicant is of good character; has 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, has had a total residence in the State amounting to four years; that he or she intends in good faith to continue to reside in the State after naturalisation; and has made a declaration in the prescribed manner of fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the State. The Minister makes a decision in each case based on the entirety of the information presented. Losing employment, of itself, does not affect a persons eligibility for citizenship.