Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 July 2025
660. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 582 of 1 July 2025, if he will clarify that checks into an applicant’s background include checks against a criminal database; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37716/25]
View answerThe 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.
As part of the naturalisation application process, an applicant is required to detail any offences they have, regardless of where an incident occurred, or how long ago.
All adult applicants are required to undertake the Garda e-vetting process, or any other police vetting processes as deemed necessary by the Citizenship Division.
All applicants are required to satisfy the good character criterion under Section 15 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 as amended.
Additionally, as part of this assessment, An Garda Síochána make enquiries into each applicant’s background; the detail and extent of which is a matter for An Garda Síochána. For sound operational reasons, it is not the practice to comment on the enquiries that may be conducted.
