F43[16. —(1) The Minister may, in his absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation in the following cases, although the conditions for naturalisation (or any of them) are not complied with:

(a) where the applicant is of Irish descent or Irish associations;

(b) where the applicant is a parent or guardian acting on behalf of a minor of Irish descent or Irish associations;

(c) where the applicant is a naturalised Irish citizen acting on behalf of a minor child of the applicant;

(d) F44[…]

(e) F44[…]

(f) where the applicant is or has been resident abroad in the public service;

(g) where the applicant is a person who is a refugee within the meaning of the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of the 28th day of July, 1951, and the Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees of the 31st day of January, 1967, or is a Stateless person within the meaning of the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons of the 28th day of September, 1954.]

F45[(2) For the purposes of this section a person is of Irish associations if—

(a) he or she is related by blood, affinity or adoption to F46[, or is the civil partner of,] a person who is an Irish citizen or entitled to be an Irish citizen, or

(b) he or she was related by blood, affinity or adoption to F46[, or was the civil partner of,] a person who is deceased and who, at the time of his or her death, was an Irish citizen or entitled to be an Irish citizen.]