Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would like to address an issue with the Irish passport. Ireland has been ranked among the top ten countries that hold the strongest passports according to the Henley Passport Index. The index measures the strength of a passport based on a citizen's ability to travel visa-free or using an easy access visa. Irish passport holders have the freedom to travel to 184 countries, which makes the Irish passport an attractive product.In that context, I wish to raise an issue that came to my attention over the Christmas when I was speaking to somebody who was home for the festivities. He is a British national who is married to an Irish woman. Their children have Irish passports. He inquired about the possibility of getting an Irish passport but was told that, while it would be possible, he would have to live in Ireland for one year to qualify for naturalisation and thus citizenship. I agree that there should be rules and stipulations but in cases where a spouse is not of Irish descent but the rest of the family is, are we unfairly discriminating against the foreign spouse where there is a long-standing relationship and proof of many years of travel to Ireland? We allow generous access to Irish citizenship to people around the world - in many cases to individuals who might never travel to this land in their lifetimes. However, can we restrict access for a family unit where connections are real and visible for all to see?

The Constitution insists on a special affinity with people of Irish ancestry living abroad who share our culture, identity and heritage. Is marriage not the most special affinity? Can we ask a family to split to reconcile residency issues or ask them to move lock, stock and barrel to Ireland for a year? That is not practical. This man has an important job in England, as does his wife. His children are in school. The Minister should clarify what we are preparing to do for such hard-working families who travel to Ireland regularly to see elderly relatives and family here. What are our contingency plans? What could Brexit mean for the right of UK citizens, derived from Irish law under the EU freedom of movement legislation, to come and live in Ireland without residency permits? These are serious questions. Irish passports will have a massive role to play in the context of Brexit. I accept that the Minister is coming to the House later but we must address these issues. The uncertainty is unreal so we must obtain clarification on this matter.

I agree with Senator Ardagh. We support the nurses and the ambulance personnel. They are doing a great job. We must give them our support because they work extremely hard.