asked the Taoiseach (a) if the Government has compiled—as the British Government has done—a register of those citizens of Ireland who have sought British citizenship; (b) if he will state their number to date and if publication of their names and addresses is contemplated; (c) if he will indicate whether these individuals will enjoy a dual citizenship under which they can exempt themselves from military service in both countries in the event of conscription.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Citizens and British Citizenship.
The Government has no means of compiling a register of the kind proposed. The registration procedure referred to by the Deputy is provided for under a British Act, and applications for registration in accordance with it are a matter between the individuals concerned and the British authorities. Our legislation does not provide for any such register, and we have no information regarding the numbers or names of Irish citizens who have applied for registration under the British Act.
Irish citizens may possess the citizenship of another country. Whether acquisition of the citizenship of another country entails the loss of Irish citizenship depends on the circumstances of the particular case and is a question which only the courts can finally decide. The question of liability to military service in the case of dual citizenship is usually governed by treaty or convention and does not easily lend itself to general statement. As a rule, however, persons possessing the citizenship of two different countries are not exempted from liability to military service in the country with which they have the closer association
Does the Taoiseach consider that the Government should request the British Government for a copy of this register?
I do not think so. The Deputy must realise that, apart from treaty or convention, the question of nationality is a domestic matter for each country and we cannot interfere with the nationality legislation of the British any more than they can interfere with ours.