British Nationality (Irish Citizens) Act 2024

For example, if we take the beginning of the troubles, the period from 1969 to 1972, people who had moved to Northern Ireland because of disturbances and violence in the Republic were at that stage in their early or mid-20s. They were born in the period from 1950 right up to the mid-1950s. All of them—including their children—were born after 1949 and none of them was able to avail themselves of a British passport, unless they went through the expensive and time-consuming naturalisation process. Therein lay the problem, because as time wore on, more and more people were falling foul of the 1949 process.

I have in my hands a British passport and an Irish passport. We expected Governments to treat people who were owners of these passports equitably and not to deal with them in a partisan way that would result in someone saying, “Well, is this because I own an Irish passport?” or “Is this because I own a British passport?” I entered this House in 2001, and in June 2005 I tabled my first written parliamentary question, which was to ask the Secretary of State whether he would

“ensure that people who have resided in Northern Ireland for a certain length of time, but were born in the Irish Republic, can obtain a British passport at the same cost as those who were born in Northern Ireland.”—[Official Report, 13 June 2005; Vol. 435, c. 167W.]

The answer was a standard answer about the fee that was payable, and did not distinguish between whether someone was born in the Republic or in Northern Ireland.

Then we came to the 2020s. I raised the matter in September 2020, October 2022 and June 2023, and then my right hon. Friend the Member for Belfast East (Gavin Robinson) managed to secure a private Member’s Bill in April 2024, which brought us to where we are today. Thankfully, that got Government support and became law.

I thank the Minister for her attention thus far. I am glad that she is here today. I thank her for deliberating on the matter and getting us to the point we are at, but these two issues remain unresolved. We have come on a long, protracted journey—every time I switch on the television, whatever the topic, people always seem to be on a journey, and we have been on this journey for 20 years. We are now 95% of the way there. Next week, we will get over the line, but there are two issues outstanding. I hope that the Minister can respond explicitly today and tell us that they will be addressed in short order, but I suspect that she will have to go back to the Home Office. Either way, I hope that the issues can be reviewed and that we can get 100% satisfaction so that people are treated equitably in Northern Ireland whether they regard themselves as Irish citizens or British citizens. Many thousands of people were inadvertently born 2, 3 or 4 miles away from where us UK citizens were born in the UK and long to be regarded in the same way as I and everyone in my immediate vicinity is regarded—as a UK citizen—and to be the proud holder of a cherished UK passport.

I have spoken to many people who said they wanted to see us commence this Act because of how it recognises those shared cultural, historic and geographical connections. However, it is also important that Irish citizens who want to become British citizens should have a simpler pathway, which recognises that Irish nationals are treated differently from other nationalities for immigration purposes, as codified in section 3ZA of the Immigration Act 1971. Again, that must be viewed in the context of our historic relationship.

The new route represents that unique relationship between our two countries and builds on the common travel area arrangements that have benefited citizens of both nations for decades. It will enable eligible Irish nationals who have made their home in the UK to participate fully in British society while maintaining their Irish citizenship.

The Act that was introduced into the House of Commons by the right hon. Member for Belfast East initially sought to allow for people born in Ireland after 31 December 1948 to register as a British citizen if they had acquired five years’ residence in Northern Ireland. However, the previous Government and Home Office officials worked alongside the right hon. Member to expand the scope of the initial act to cover Irish citizens of any age.

The Government were pleased to continue the work of the previous Government in commencing the Act following the general election in July last year. Like the previous Government, we wholeheartedly support the underlying principles of the Act and have given due consideration to its different components.

The hon. Member asked where citizenship ceremonies take place in Northern Ireland. They happen in Hillsborough castle or at Lagan Valley Island and are presided over by one of Northern Ireland’s eight Lord Lieutenants. I hope that is helpful to him in understanding some of the ways in which the operational side happens in Northern Ireland.

I thank all right hon. and hon. Members for their contributions, not just in Westminster Hall today but their work leading up to now. I am extremely pleased to announce that the new provisions set out in the Act will commence on 22 July. I reiterate our support for the underlying principles of the Act and our continued acknowledgment of the shared history and geography of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with our friends across the Irish sea. We meanwhile look forward to welcoming applications from eligible Irish citizens via the new route in the near future. I look forward to continuing discussions with the hon. Member for East Londonderry and others as we move forward.