Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Oct 1998

Vol. 495 No. 4

Written Answers. - Northern Ireland Civil Service.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

100 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised or proposes to raise through the Anglo-Irish secretariat the provisions of Northern Irish law which confine positions in the Northern Irish Civil Service to British citizens; the representations, if any, he has received from groups or affected individuals relating to this issue; if the Government has a policy on the justification for maintaining this restriction in Northern Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20475/98]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

On 1 June 1996, the British Government introduced new civil service nationality rules. These regulations apply on a UK-wide basis, including to the Northern Ireland Civil Service. As I stated in reply to a similar question on 26 May last, the effect of the 1 June development was to place Irish citizens on the same footing as Commonwealth and other European Economic Area (EEA) nationals with regard to civil service recruitment in Britain and Northern Ireland.

The position of the British Government was that these changes were necessary to protect itself against the possibility of legal challenges in the European Court of Justice by nationals from other EEA countries, in light of the freedom of movement of workers' obligations arising under the Treaty of Rome. It was also conveyed to us that, despite the new restrictions, Irish citizens would continue to be eligible for some 75 per cent of the total UK Civil Service posts, including in the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

This development, and the concerns in relation to it, have been raised with the British authorities on a number of occasions by the Government through the Embassy in London and the Anglo-Irish secretariat in Belfast. In consultation with the Department of Finance, which is the Department responsible for public sector recruitment in this jurisdiction, the Department is keeping the situation under close review.

The Department is also staying in contact with the Federation of Irish Societies in Britain, who have raised their concerns about this development on a number of occasions with Government representatives.