Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this issue. He is right that it has been raised with me directly and indirectly via social media and otherwise. It has also been raised with the Minister.

Ensuring both the citizenship and identity provisions of the Good Friday Agreement are upheld in all relevant areas is vitally important. It is something on which the Government and I are continuing to engage intensively. The Government has noted the update on UK immigration rules announced on 7 March, as the Senator outlined, to give effect to the UK settled status scheme and the letter from the UK Minister of State for Immigration, Ms Caroline Nokes, MP, on 5 February. We are all fully aware, including the Government, of the concerns the statements made raise for Irish citizens living in Northern Ireland, particularly, as the Senator outlined, given the uncertainty surrounding Brexit. It is important to be clear that the statements in no way change the current position - the EU citizenship of Irish citizens living in Northern Ireland will continue in all circumstances.As EU citizens, they will continue to enjoy the right to live and work throughout the European Union, as well as the right not to be discriminated against on the grounds of nationality. It is very important that we return to the words of the Good Friday Agreement. It "recognises the birth right of all of the people of Northern Ireland to identify and be accepted as Irish or British or both, as they may so choose". Accordingly, it is confirmed in the agreement "that their right to hold both British and Irish citizenship is accepted by both Governments".

Last December the Tánaiste wrote to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to raise the case of Ms Emma DeSouza, the concerns related to the identity and citizenship provisions of the Good Friday Agreement and suggest a review of the issues and questions which have been raised not just in recent weeks but for some time, as the Senator outlined. Following this engagement, the Government noted and welcomed the fact that the Prime Minister had acknowledged in her recent speech in Belfast on 5 February that there had been serious concerns raised about how UK immigration rules treated citizens exercising their right under the Good Friday Agreement to be Irish. The British Prime Minister affirmed that "the birth right to identify and be accepted as British, Irish or both" and the right to hold both British and Irish citizenship were absolutely central to the agreement. She said she had asked the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to urgently review the issues surrounding citizenship to deliver a long-term solution consistent with the letter and the spirit of the agreement. They were welcome commitments and acknowledgements by the Prime Minister. The Government and our colleagues in the North are now actively seeking the outcome of the review announced by the Prime Minister in February.

There is clearly a need for the UK Government to provide an assurance for everyone living in Northern Ireland that the citizenship and identity provisions in the Good Friday Agreement are being fully taken account of in all policy areas, regardless of the United Kingdom's approach to exiting the European Union. The Government also fully recognises the importance of access to EU programmes for Irish citizens and, therefore, EU citizens living in Northern Ireland. We are continuing to work to find ways by which they can be protected, consistent with the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement. I repeat that this is irrespective of the approach being taken by the United Kingdom to exiting the European Union and whether we have a deal. Obviously, we would prefer to have a deal scenario. The protocol expressly confirms that Irish citizens living in Northern Ireland "will continue to enjoy, exercise and have access to rights, opportunities and benefits" that come with EU citizenship. Access to specific programmes is to be addressed during the period of transition and in the overall context of the future relationship.

We are ready for a no-deal exit by the United Kingdom and have actively been exploring ways by which we can protect continued access to EU entitlements for Irish citizens living in Northern Ireland, wherever possible. In any scenario the Government, the Tánaiste and I will continue to engage with the UK Government to ensure the important citizenship and identity provisions of the Good Friday Agreement will be upheld in all relevant policy areas.