Signed up on the forum to share my timeline,
Applied (5 years residence): 31/07/2015
1st Acknowledgment: 9/08/2015
2nd Stage: 16/09/2015 (dated, not sure when received as was away)
Approval: Pending
Emailed the office today and was told that my application still hasn't been submitted to the Minister, hence I won't make it for 14th Dec.
BTW my colleague who has received 2nd Stage letter on the 10/09/2015 has received his approval last week, so I think I have just missed it... Bad luck

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From further enquiring I understand that either the Garda or other report hasn't been received yet, or has been received but not in time for the previous batch for submission to the Minister.
I have a question though. I hope my application is approved some time in Jan 2016, and then I'll need to send GNIB card and fee. But my GNIB card is valid till 26th February and I feel its unlikely there'll be a ceremony before March - though to renew GNIB card I'll likely need my old one. How do I go about that? Is it going to cause any trouble?