John Deasy
Question:143. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of UK citizens currently resident here that hold and do not hold an Irish passport. [40088/19]
View answerWednesday, 2 October 2019
Questions (143)
Written answers
The Deputy may wish to note that EEA nationals residing in Ireland, including UK citizens, are not required to register their presence in the State with my Department. My Department, therefore, does not hold the information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of UK nationals resident in the State.
In relation to the question of UK citizens who hold an Irish passport, this is a matter for my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. That Department has advised that it is not possible to determine the number UK citizens currently resident in Ireland that hold and do not hold an Irish Passport. The Passport Service does not record if an applicant holds any other citizenship.
I am further advised that all passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act, 2008, as amended. The Passports Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to him or her. Entitlement to Irish citizenship is governed by Irish law and in particular the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.