Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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71. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the eligibility of a person (details supplied) under the naturalisation scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16637/16]

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 the person concerned has made an application for a certificate of naturalisation. The processing of the application is ongoing with a view to establishing whether the conditions for naturalisation, such as good character and lawful residence are satisfied. The records show that the person's permission to reside expired on 11 April 2016. All non-EEA nationals are required to keep their permission to remain in the State up to date at all times and failure to do so may adversely affect an application for a certificate of naturalisation.

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.

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.