Gov’t approves citizenship application after warning of legal action

A client who waited more than three-and-a-half years for a decision on his citizenship application has received approval after the ICI wrote to the Government warning we would begin legal action on his behalf. The ICI wrote to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform warning that “mandamus” proceedings would be launched if a decision on the man’s application was not made. An application for an order of mandamus is a legal action taken in the High Court to force the Government to make a decision. The man’s application has now been approved. The department said they had delayed a decision until after the conclusion of a recent High Court challenge by another citizenship applicant. While the ICI is perplexed by the Department’s reasoning – as the case in the High Court concerned a person who had been refused citizenship on the grounds of failing to meet the “good character condition” and nothing of that nature had been inferred in the case supported by the ICI – we are delighted for our client.