Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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115. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will publish the precise criteria on which she will grant or refuse naturalisation in the context of civil proceedings, arrests or spent convictions for minor offences; if persons are denied naturalisation on the grounds of spent convictions, particularly those that do not involve violence or fraud; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34844/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Section 15 of the Act provides that the Minister may, in her absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation if satisfied that certain statutory conditions are fulfilled. In particular, these conditions require that an applicant is of good character.

It would be neither possible or appropriate, given the wide range of possibilities, for me to publish precise criteria on how specific offences will be considered in any application, as each application is considered on its merits based on the entirety of the case presented at that time. To do so could be interpreted as a fettering of the absolute discretion given to the Minister in the Act. I can inform the Deputy that I am concerned to ensure that the threshold of what constitutes good character is, taking all things into account, maintained at an appropriate level and as such is fair to all applicants having regard to their particularcircumstances.

It is open to any individual to lodge an application for a certificate of naturalisation 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 fact that a person may have had an application refused does not preclude or disqualify them from submitting a fresh application in the future. Indeed, the letter advising an applicant of a negative decision also informs them that they may re-apply for the grant of a certificate of naturalisation at any time. The letter advises that, when considering making such a re-application, they should give due regard to the reasons for the refusal which were contained in the submission attached to the refusal letter and that any further application will be considered taking into account all statutory and administrative conditions applicable at the time of application.

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 I know the Deputy will appreciate that it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.