Dáil Éireann - Volume 531 - 27 February, 2001

Written Answers. - Naturalisation Applications.

Mr. Stanton Mr. Stanton

379. Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the criteria he employs when deciding on applications for certificates of naturalisation; the number of such applications received, granted and denied each year for the past four years; the country of origin in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5847/01]

Mr. O'Donoghue Mr. O'Donoghue

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue): Section 15 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, as amended in 1986, provides that I may grant a certificate of naturalisation at my absolute discretion if I am satisfied that the applicant: (a) is of full age; (b) is of good character; (c) has had a period of one year's continuous residence in the State immediately before the date of the application and, during the eight years immediately preceding that period, has had a total residence in the State amounting to four years; (d) intends in good faith to continue to reside in the State after naturalisation; and (e) has made, either before a justice of the District Court in open court or in such manner as the Minister, for special reasons, allows, a declaration in the prescribed manner of fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the State.

Section 16 of the Acts provides that I may waive some or all of the conditions set out in section 15 in certain circumstances, including where the applicant is of Irish descent or associations, is married to a naturalised Irish citizen or is the minor child of a naturalised Irish citizen.

The following table sets out the statistical information requested by the Deputy:

The numbers of certificates issued or applications refused in a given year do not necessarily refer to applications received in that year. In relation to the number of applications refused, it is likely that a number of these persons would have been naturalised subsequently on foot of a further application. Statistics are not compiled in such a manner which shows the number of applicants from each country of origin. It would involve a disproportionate use of staff resources to prepare such an analysis.

Dáil Éireann 531 Written Answers. Naturalisation Applications.

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