Why Northern Ireland is treated differently?

margaretx9

movilogo wrote: »

Why people in Northern Ireland are eligible for Irish passports but not people from other parts of UK i.e. Great Britain?


It appears people in NI are getting best of both worlds in spite of being part of UK.


Whatever happened in the past, it is better to move forward and not remaining stuck in the past.


If NI wants to join Ireland, lets have a referendum and see what NI wants (after all if Scotland can choose then why not NI, Wales or England)?

This article has a picture of the inside page of the Irish passport.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/redesigned-irish-passport-unveiled-by-t%C3%A1naiste-1.1544839

What do you notice looking at the pictures - Ireland is considered to be one island and there is no border! Essentially the Irish passport treats Northern Ireland as if it doesn't exist!

It also says - which isn't actually true now as its based on descent not birth - that 'it is the entitlement and birthright of every person born on the island of Ireland which includes its islands and seas to be part of the Irish nation'.

Under the Irish constitution and Good Friday agreement anyone born on the island of Ireland before 2005 and/or anyone who has an Irish citizen parent (as of right) or grandparent (subject to applying to be on the foreign births register) is an Irish citizen and thus can apply for an Irish passport.

So NI is different - because NI is located on the island of Ireland. Arlene Foster is - in the eyes of the Irish government - as Irish as Graham Norton!

As for your general comment there are several million people resident in England, Scotland and Wales who are Irish citizens - I am one as my parents were Irish citizens - but I was born here and have dual UK/Irish nationality. Many American, Aussie and Canadian residents are also Irish citizens by descent. Indeed the Irish diaspora is estimated to be as high as 50 million plus worldwide - but less than 5 million live in the Irish republic. Don't tell them all though - as the Irish passport office couldn't cope if they all applied for a passport.