Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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167. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the Irish nationality and citizenship (amendment) Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2121/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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In July 2019, the previous Government approved the priority drafting of an Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill to address issues arising from the High Court judgment in the case of Jones v. Minister for Justice and Equality relating to the continuous residence condition for the issue of a certificate of naturalisation under section 15 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956. 

The subsequent judgment of the Court of Appeal in the Jones case, which was delivered in November 2019, overruled the High Court’s interpretation of the continuous residence condition and enabled the processing of naturalisation applications to resume, removing the immediate need for legislation to address the issue. 

However, the continuous residence requirement in the 1956 Act is under review within my Department, as it is my intention to modernise the provisions to reflect the realities of modern life.

I will bring proposals for legislation on this matter to Government in due course.