Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the eligibility for naturalisation or residency on a temporary basis arising from work permit in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49383/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that an application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy in September, 2011.

The application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation, such as good character and lawful residence, and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.

As well as being a significant event in the life of its recipient, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation as provided for in law is also a major step for the State which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process. The applicant made an application for a Without Condition As To Time endorsement (Stamp 5) on the 8 April 2009. The endorsement was granted and returned to the applicant on the 15 April 2009. The endorsement permits the holder to work without a work permit and to operate a business without the permission of the Minister, once it is registered with the Garda National Immigration Bureau. The endorsement is valid for the remainder of the duration of the passport. In this case, the 2 June 2016.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.