Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

486. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she is aware of the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 who has applied for naturalisation, but who is at risk of losing her job because she has no proof she can stay in the country; and if she can fast track that person's application. [20105/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Section 15 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, as amended, provides that the Minister may, in her absolute discretion, grant a certificate of naturalisation, provided certain statutory conditions are fulfilled. One such condition is that the applicant must have 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, have had a total residence in the State amounting to four years. Certain periods of residence are excluded. These include, inter alia, periods in respect of which an applicant does not have permission to remain in the State and periods granted for the purposes of study.

An application for a certificate of naturalisation was received in the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) in January 2014 from the person referred to by the Deputy. On examination of the application it was determined that the person in question did not meet the statutory residency requirements as set out in the Act and referred to above. The person concerned was informed of this by letter on 2 April, 2014 along with a calculation of her periods of reckonable residence.

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. The on-line Naturalisation Residency Calculator available on the INIS web-site at www.inis.gov.iecan be used as a guide in establishing whether the naturalisation residency conditions are met.

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.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

487. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when an application for naturalisation, submitted by a person (details supplied) in County Galway, will be decided; the reason for the delay in considering this application, in view of the fact that the applicant's mother was approved Irish citizenship; the financial hardship being experienced by this applicant, specifically due to the fact that she is unable to access Student Universal Support Ireland funding, pending naturalisation, and is also unable to take up work experience abroad, connected to her studies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20108/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that a valid application for a certificate of naturalisation has been received from the person referred to by the Deputy.

As the Deputy will appreciate, as well as being a significant event for the recipient, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation as provided for in law is also a major step for the State as it 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. All adult applications are processed individually with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation, such as good character and lawful residence. In some instances this can be established relatively quickly and in other cases completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time. I am informed that processing of this application is well advanced and the case will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.

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.