Citizenship application changes welcomed by Clare support group

CLARE Immigrant Support Centre has welcomed new changes to the citizenship application process.
Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter announced details of a package of measures aimed at reforming the processing of naturalisation applications.

The measures aim to cut down the time it takes a citizenship application to be processed and introduce a formal citizenship ceremony for those accepted.
Orla Ní Éilí, project manager at Clare Immigrant Support Centre, said, “The announcement by Alan Shatter is absolutely fantastic news and it’s showing that he’s listening to the recommendations that were made.
“Another thing people said to us was that when they were in the courts being sworn-in, someone could have just been put to jail before them. There’s no sense of occasion for what is one of the biggest moments of their lives.
“The difference it makes is huge. Whole families come into the office and cry with us and laugh with us. It’s not just a symbolic thing. I know one man who won’t get married until it comes through. He has his own business and employs people here; his commitment to Ireland is so deep,” she added.
When the new Government were introduced on March 9, there was a backlog of approximately 22,000 citizenship applications. In the past two and a half months, 5,578 applications have been dealt with, exceeding the full year total for 2010 of 5,038. 
Currently, the process can take up to 26 months, with around 14,000 applications waiting decision in excess of six months at this time.
Minister Shatter noted, “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 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.”
To remedy the situation, the minister has arranged for citizenship ceremonies, the pilot of which will take place in Dublin Castle this Friday. “Justice Bryan McMahon, retired judge of the High Court, has agreed to assume the role of presiding officer,” he said.
New application forms are 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,” the minister concluded.