Written answers

Thursday, 24 November 2016

Department of Justice and Equality

Immigration Status

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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54. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the current and expected residency status and eligibility for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36800/16]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I refer the Deputy to the reply to his Parliamentary Question No. 75 of Friday 16th September 2016 in relation to the person concerned. I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the position remains unchanged. The processing of the application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person concerned is under consideration and has not yet reached a conclusion but I understand however that the case is due to be submitted for decision in the near future.

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.

It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. While most cases are now generally processed within six months, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.

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.

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