James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding an application for Irish citizenship in respect of a person (details suppled) in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4388/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that there is no record of an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's question. My response to Parliamentary Question No. 179 of 21st November 2012, set out the position in respect of an application by the person concerned for residence in the State on the basis of civil partnership to an Irish national (extract below). Since that reply, documentation was requested by the Spouse of Irish National Section of INIS on 23rd November in order to allow for the application to be finalised. The documentation requested was not supplied in full. A further request for documentation issued on 13th December, 2012 resulting with the receipt of some of the documentation requested. A further request clarifying the list of documentation to be submitted, issued to the legal representative of the person concerned on 18th January, 2013. A response to this request is awaited.

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.

Extract from reply to PQ 179 - 21st November, 2012

I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that an application from the person concerned for residence in the State on the sole basis of civil partnership to an Irish national is currently under consideration.

Applications are dealt with in chronological order and I understand that INIS expect a decision to issue in this case before the end of November, 2012. It should be noted that civil partnership with an Irish national nor marriage to an Irish national does not confer an automatic right of residence in the State.

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.