Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

Records relating to the policies and procedures governing the application of discretion in the treatment of the residence requirements as part of citizenship by naturalisation applications in respect of section 15(1)(c) of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. Specifically, records which relate to the treatment of absences from Ireland in:- 1. The years leading up to the year prior to making an application for citizenship by naturalisation. 2. The year immediately prior to the making of an application for citizenship by naturalisation (i.e. the ‘6-week rule’). Specifically, any guidance provided to decision makers in relation to the treatment of such absences and any information as regards the pattern of the Minister’s exercise of discretion which might take the form of a guidance document or correspondence.