Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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110. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if alterative arrangements will be made in the case of a person (details supplied); if an affidavit or other means will be used in lieu thereof; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39230/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Immigration Service of my Department that the processing of the application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy is on-going.

A letter issued to the person concerned on 17 September 2019 requesting certain documentation and a reply is awaited. Upon receipt of the requested documentation the case will be further processed.

Everyone who is making an application for a certificate of naturalisation is required to provide satisfactory documentary evidence of their identity and nationality. This is usually in the form of a currently valid passport and may include other original supporting documents, such as a previously held or out of date passport, birth certificate or register of birth and marriage certificate.

In rare circumstances, where an applicant cannot produce their current passport, or a previous passport, birth certificate or other supporting documents, the applicant will be required to provide a full explanation. Such explanation should, where possible, be supported by satisfactory evidence that they have attempted to obtain such documentation and correspondence from the relevant authorities or embassy responsible for the issuing of passports and birth certificates in their country, clearly stating the reasons the documentation cannot be provided. The Immigration Service will consider the explanation given and, if satisfied that it is for reasons genuinely beyond the applicant's control, may suggest alternative means to the person to assist in establishing their identity and nationality.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the Immigration Service of my Department 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 the Immigration Service is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.