Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Maidin maith agaibh. I was not sure this fell within the Minister's remit but I am glad to see him back and I congratulate him on his new appointment. Perhaps he hoped he would get away from the issue of Brexit and the North for a wee bit. A bit like the Corleones, as soon as he thought he was out, they pulled him back in. Here we are and I appreciate the Minister coming before us, particularly as this is an important matter which we have discussed before.

As the Minister has outlined to a considerable extent, Brexit has caused a great deal of uncertainty across this island, in Britain and throughout Europe. It is fair to say that in the cut and thrust of debate and in the highlighting of people's concerns, one of the matters that has fallen below the surface is that which relates to the status of ethnic minorities and non-European Union citizens who are resident in the North. As a result of Brexit, the uncertainty around their status is particularly pronounced and it adds pressure to a section of society that is already vulnerable as a result of their status.

I hope to discover from the Minister whether this important issue has been factored into the Government's consideration and negotiating stance. A number of organisations representing the ethnic minority community have come together in the North. If the Minister has not seen it already, there is probably an outstanding request from them to meet him. The organisations in question represent a broad range of new communities and ethnic minorities seeking an amendment to the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 2004. I appreciate I am preaching to the choir and the Minister knows that, under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, people born on the island of Ireland may avail of Irish or British citizenship, or both. For many of our ethnic minority communities, that is not the case. This means members of ethnic minority communities and immigrants may be here from EU or non-EU states and may be resident in the North and have children who were born here and who qualify for Irish citizenship. They are rearing families in communities here and they identify as Irish and new Irish. Their children may be in Gaelscoileanna or playing for their local GAA clubs. Brexit has added much concern, fear and uncertainty for them.

That concern, fear and uncertainty is as pronounced as it is among EU citizens living in the North who wish, because of their status, to avail of Irish citizenship but cannot do so. Some of the more established and older settled communities in the North, such as the Chinese, Indian and Middle Eastern communities, have reared families, opened businesses and contributed to life, helping in their own way to build the peace and reconciliation process. They are deeply concerned, particularly those with children who are Irish citizens and who have Irish passports. I do not like the term "naturalisation" but naturalisation period relating to the people to whom I refer only qualifies them to apply for British citizenship and passports in the North.

I appreciate that the situation at present is somewhat hypothetical and not exactly tangible. My understanding is that the Government could take the initiative to amend the Act, which would be very important and symbolic. It would also, in practical terms, be supportive of the ethnic minority communities in the North that are deeply concerned about their status as a result of Brexit.