asked the Minister for Justice whether a desirable alien, who wishes to become naturalised as a Free State subject, can do so; and, if there is no law at present in existence, whether he will consider the possibility of introducing proposals for legislation to remove this disability at a future date.

Legislation implementing Article 3 of the Constitution has not been enacted, and there is no legal procedure whereby an alien can acquire citizenship of the Saorstát. Proposals for a citizenship Bill have been formulated in my Department, but the subject is one of some complexity, and I cannot say at the moment when a Bill to deal with the matter will be introduced.