Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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163. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when an application for naturalisation might be favourably considered in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare, in view of the circumstances; if that person's application is now eligible for consideration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12581/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that a valid application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy. My predecessor decided to defer a final decision on this application until November 2014. The person concerned was notified of this decision and the reasons for it in a letter issued on 09 May, 2013.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour 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. I am informed that processing of this application is well advanced and the applicant will be informed of my decision in due course.

The Deputy may wish to note that 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 established specifically 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.