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Amendment of section 15 of Act of 1956
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6. Section 15 of the Act of 1956 is amended—
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(a) in subsection (1)—
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(i) by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (a):
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“(a) is of full age;”,
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and
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(ii) by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (e):
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“(e) has, in accordance with subsection (1A) or, as the case may be, subsection (1B), and in the prescribed manner—
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(i) made a declaration of fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the State, and
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(ii) undertaken to faithfully observe the laws of the State and respect its democratic values.”,
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(b) by the insertion of the following subsections after subsection (1):
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“(1A) The declaration referred to in paragraph (e) of subsection (1) shall be made, and the undertaking referred to in that paragraph shall be given—
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(a) subject to subsection (1B), in a citizenship ceremony, or
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(b) in such manner as the Minister, for special reasons, allows.
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(1B) The Minister may—
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(a) dispense with the requirement under subsection (1A)(a) that the declaration be made and the undertaking be given in a citizenship ceremony, and
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(b) allow the applicant to make the declaration and give the undertaking in such manner as the Minister may specify,
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where the Minister is of the opinion that, having regard to the number of applications of which he is in receipt, it is appropriate to do so in the interests of ensuring that such applications are dealt with in an efficient manner.”,
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(c) in subsection (2), by the substitution of “subsection (1) and paragraphs (a) to (d) of section 15B(1)” for “subsection (1)”, and
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(d) by the deletion of subsections (3) and (4).
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