Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new Irish citizens that retain passports of their native country or other countries; his views on holders of multiple passports with Irish passports following naturalisation; if he will indicate if the majority of new Irish citizens since 2008 hold dual nationality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9299/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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It is not possible to provide the information requested by the Deputy as this is an individual decision by an Irish citizen taken following naturalisation.

Under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1935, if a citizen of the State, aged 21 years or over, became a citizen of another country they ceased to be a citizen of the State. The 1935 Act was repealed by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 and new provisions were enacted, which conditionally permit Irish citizens to also hold citizenship of other countries. Retention of their former citizenship by a person following naturalisation is not prohibited under Irish law. However, the Act provides that the Minister may revoke a certificate of naturalisation if he is satisfied that the person to whom it is granted has by any voluntary act, other than marriage or entry into a civil partnership, acquired another citizenship. I have no plans at present to amend legislation to prohibit the holding of more than one passport by an Irish citizen.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding an application for naturalisation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9314/13]

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, 2012.

The application is 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.

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.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding an application for naturalisation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9315/13]

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, 2012.

The application is 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.

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.