‘Reforms to include 6 month turnaround on naturalisation applications and
the introduction of a formal citizenship ceremony’
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter, T.D., today
provided details of a package of measures aimed at reforming his
Department’s processing of naturalisation applications.
When the new Government came into office on 9th March there was a backlog
of approximately 22,000 citizenship applications awaiting decision,
approximately 17,000 of which had been awaiting decision for in excess of 6
months with an average waiting time of 26 months. As of this date there
remain 14,000 applications awaiting decision in excess of 6 months. 5,578
citizenship applications have been dealt with in the past 2 and a half
months which exceeds the full year total for 2010 which was 5,038.
Minister Shatter said “On taking up office in March, I immediately
initiated steps within my Department to deal with the huge backlog of
citizenship applications that had built up under the previous Governments
administration. It is entirely inappropriate, and completely out of step
with other jurisdictions, that people wishing to become Irish citizens
should be expected to wait an average of 25 months for a decision on their
application. Under the new system, save in exceptional circumstances,
persons applying for citizenship will be given a decision on their
application within six months”
“I was astonished to discover that approx 55% of all citizenship
applications received by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service had to
be returned to applicants due to their being incorrectly completed. It was
evident, prior to my appointment as Minister, that citizenship application
forms were unnecessarily complex and obtuse and I took immediate steps to
remedy this. By the end of this week (Friday, 17th June) new application
forms will be available online at www.inis.gov.ie. These new arrangements
should dramatically reduce the numbers incorrectly completed and
substantially contribute to more efficient and streamlined processing
times.”
“I also had substantial concerns that we lacked appropriate arrangements in
place to give proper recognition to the importance of a person being
granted Irish citizenship. Under existing arrangements a local district
court clerk arranged for a person granted citizenship to take an oath
before a District Court Judge and the new citizen subsequently received
their Certificate of Naturalisation by post. There was no sense of
occasion or recognition of what a major and important event it is to become
an Irish citizen.
“To remedy this situation, I have arranged for the introduction of a
Citizenship Ceremony. A pilot ceremony is scheduled to take place in
Dublin Castle on 24th June where Justice Bryan McMahon, retired judge of
the High Court, has agreed to assume the role of presiding officer. Future
Citizenship Ceremonies will take place both in Dublin and outside of
Dublin.”
Further steps being taken to improve the processing time for citizenship
applications include:
· Streamlined and accelerated checking procedures for certain
categories of applicants such as spouses of Irish citizens and
applicants recently granted long term residency who as part of that
process underwent checks similar to those in place for
naturalisation.
· Plans to recruit an appropriate number of interns under the new
Internship Programme announced in the Government’s Jobs Initiative to
assist in areas dealing with naturalisation applications such as the
Citizenship Section of the Department of Justice and Equality and the
Garda Vetting Office.