Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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99. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the procedure to be followed to obtain Irish citizenship resulting in Irish and US dual citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15904/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by officials in the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that entitlement to Irish citizenship, as well as the conditions pertaining to a grant of citizenship through naturalisation, are governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. It is open to any individual to lodge an application for citizenship through naturalisation, if and when they are in a position to meet the statutory conditions as prescribed in the Act. The statutory conditions are that the applicant must -

- be of full age,

- be of good character,

- 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 further total residence in the State amounting to four years,

- intend in good faith to continue to reside in the State after naturalisation,

- have, before a judge of the District Court in open court, in a citizenship ceremony or in such manner as the Minister, for special reasons, allows -

(i) made a declaration, in the prescribed manner, of fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the State, and

(ii) undertaken to faithfully observe the laws of the State and to respect its democratic values.

Under Irish law it is possible for an Irish citizen to hold dual citizenship; the acquisition of Irish citizenship is not contingent on the renunciation of the citizenship of another jurisdiction. Detailed information on Irish citizenship and naturalisation, as well as the relevant application forms, is available on the INIS website at www.inis.gov.ie. The website also contains guidance on the completion of an application for naturalisation and an on-line naturalisation residency calculator which individuals may find of assistance in establishing if the residency requirements are met.