Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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135. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for the delay in issuing a person (details supplied) with a decision on their application for naturalisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50768/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, a judgement of the High Court in July of this year in respect of the application of the continuous residence requirement under Section 15(1)(c) of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956 (as amended) resulted in a pause in finalising applications for citizenship through naturalisation. The decision was appealed to the Court of Appeal which handed down its decision on Thursday, 14 November 2019. The decision upheld the lawfulness of our residency rules governing citizenship by naturalisation.

Recognising the anxiety and stress that applicants had been under following the High Court judgement I immediately instructed my officials to do all in their power to arrange a citizenship ceremony in December and in early 2020 for applicants who had been approved by me or were awaiting my approval.

I am happy to inform you that the person referred to by you has been invited to attend the next citizenship ceremony which will take place on Monday next 9 December 2019, in the Killarney Convention Centre, Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney, Co. Kerry, where he will receive his certificate of naturalisation.