Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

From the start of the Brexit discussions, we have been working to ensure Irish and British citizens in Northern Ireland will continue to be able to access the rights and privileges that come with EU citizenship. Irish citizens in Northern Ireland are EU citizens, just like Deputy Crowe and me. They will not be resident in the EU, however. Obviously, this poses obvious challenges. The Deputy asked about the rights associated with EU citizenship. We have been working on certain EU programmes and benefits, notably the EU health insurance card, in this context. When EU citizens travel across the EU, they have health insurance cover. We are working to extend this right to Northern Ireland and we will ensure this happens. That will involve passing legislation here. If necessary, the Irish Government will pay for citizens in Northern Ireland to be able to avail of that insurance cover in the same way as EU citizens. Likewise, we want to make sure students in Northern Ireland can continue to benefit from accessing universities across the EU under the Erasmus programmes. We are working to make sure the practical benefits that come with EU citizenship continue to apply to people in Northern Ireland. If necessary, we will fund that to make sure it is paid for as part of the package that will be necessary in the cases of the EU health insurance card and Erasmus.

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