asked the Minister for External Affairs whether he is aware that when leaving England for abroad Irish citizens are required to take their place in the queue designated, "Holders of British Passports", and that, when it is pointed out that an Irish passport is held, they are informed that they are considered by the embarkation authorities to be British subjects, and if he will state what steps he proposes to take in the matter.
Ceisteann—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Citizens' Passports.
I am aware that at certain British channel ports Irish citizens are required to take their place in a queue under some such title as "Holders of British passports"; but, so far as I know, this does not imply that the British authorities consider Irish citizens to be British subjects.
Under reciprocal arrangements agreed between the two countries, Irish citizens in Britain and British subjects in Ireland are exempt from the restrictions imposed on aliens generally. One aspect of these reciprocal arrangements is that Irish citizens entering or leaving Britain are exempt from the immigration requirements, including the obligation of filling landing or embarkation cards, imposed on holders of other non-British passports.
As, therefore, Irish citizens are entitled to exactly the same facilities as British subjects, the practice of grouping them together has, I suppose, been adopted as a matter of administrative convenience for the expeditious handling of immigration and currency control requirements at British ports.
For myself, I should have thought it desirable in the interests of good relations between our two countries that public recognition in Britain of Irish nationality should find expression on such occasions; and that some such designation as "holders of British and Irish passports" might be employed as being in accord with the factual situation. The Deputy will, however, appreciate that this is a matter wholly for the British authorities and their present practice may have been influenced by the fact that, of the vast numbers passing through the British channel ports, Irish citizens form only a small proportion.