Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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339. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the steps she is taking to extend the eligibility criteria of citizenship by naturalisation to include time spent in Northern Ireland as reckonable residence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38833/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

Section 15 of the Act sets out the statutory conditions that must be fulfilled for a certificate of naturalisation to be granted. The conditions include that the applicant must have 5 years reckonable residence in the State prior to making an application.

Residency in Northern Ireland is not reckonable under the Act. There are no plans to amend the legislation in this regard.

However, any person legally resident on the island of Ireland, including Northern Ireland, who is married or a civil partner to an Irish citizen and living in Northern Ireland may apply for naturalisation under section 15A of the 1956 Act; the requirements are:

• That the couple have been married to or civil partners of each other for a period of at least three years and are living together; and
• that the applicant has 3 years’ reckonable residence on the island of Ireland prior to making an application, with the final 12 months being continuous residence.