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'I think British people are quite entitled to an Irish passport'

Interest in Irish passports across the north and the UK has soared following the Brexit vote
Interest in Irish passports across the north and the UK has soared following the Brexit vote Interest in Irish passports across the north and the UK has soared following the Brexit vote

PEOPLE from the Republic have given their views on the UK's vote to leave the EU.

The referendum is done and dusted and now we can take a step back and think about the wider consequences of the UK’s decision.

Arguably the Republic will be most affected by Brexit. UN data suggests 250,000 Irish people were living in the UK in 2015, many of whom were able to vote in the historic referendum.

Much is still unknown about how the UK will extricate itself and what elements of EU citizenship it will be able to keep. In this uncertain climate, some people in the UK are searching for security in the form of an Irish passport.

Google searches on the day of the referendum result showed significant interest in the process.

Days after the referendum, the south’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, released a statement reassuring UK citizens amid the “spike in interest in Irish passports” that they would still be eligible for an Irish passport under the existing rules.

He warned against applying in a panic after the result, saying: “An unnecessary surge in applications for Irish passports will place significant pressure on the system and on turnaround times and is likely to impact those with a genuine need for passports to facilitate imminent travel plans.”

So we know what he thinks; but what do Irish citizens living both in Ireland and the UK feel about the referendum result and the potential rise in UK applications for dual nationality?

Dave Claxton

PR professional, from Dublin. Has lived in the UK since 2013.

“I was lucky enough, despite being an Irish national, to vote in the referendum and the impact that Brexit would have on Ireland weighed heavily in my decision to vote to stay within the EU.

“Ireland will be impacted massively by this decision to leave. As an economy we’re now hugely dependent on the UK for trade and the EU, through the free movement of goods, that has facilitated much closer trading links between both countries in the last few decades. With Britain now ‘out’, this close relationship will suffer badly.

“Meanwhile, UK citizens make up the second largest immigrant group in Ireland, with Britain to leave the EU, what happens to them? I don’t think anyone really knows and I feel really sorry for anyone facing such uncertainty.

“I’ve no problem at all with British people applying for an Irish passport. Welcome to the club is what I would say!

“My hope is that beyond trying to get an Irish passport, it also makes these people connect with their Irish roots more, which will hopefully be really beneficial for the country, in terms of more tourists, or even some making Ireland their new home.”

Helen Doyle

Port Lairge, Co. Waterford.

“I think it was absolutely the right thing for the UK to leave the EU. I was disappointed that we didn’t have our own referendum, because we should have the ability to make our own decisions.

“I don’t think the result will have any effect on Ireland. We have different problems. When you don’t have much in Ireland, you’re left alone, but when you are rich you’ll get richer. I think the EU is to blame for that.

“I think British people are quite entitled to an Irish passport. Going back centuries Irish people have been going over to England to live and work and vice versa, so there are family connections there.”

Grace Mangan

Fashion designer, from Dunboyne, Co. Meath. Has lived in the UK since 2010.

“I was surprised at the impact the referendum had on me emotionally. It’s not really a question of what I chose to vote; although I did vote remain, I just assumed the overall vote would be to stay.

“I feel that immigration took centre stage and it became a debate mostly about that. The UK has always been the perfect partner in terms of sharing the obligations of EU immigration. I feel the referendum result is going to push all that in our direction, when we are already under a lot of financial pressure.

“I also worry it is going to have an impact in the north where they have struggled for a long time to get to an acceptable level of peace. If they have this boundary up, it just sends the wrong message.

“I think the applications of UK citizens for Irish passports is due to people searching for security in a state in uncertainty. It makes people feel more in control.”

Mike Connor

Teacher, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick.

“I didn’t think Brexit would go the way it did. When I found out I was shocked.

“Even though historically our relationship with England has been quite bloody, we’re the only English-speaking countries in Europe and we sort of back each other up on important issues. When the UK is gone, we’ll feel like our best friend has left school and we have to talk to the people we don’t normally talk to.

“Some people here probably think Ireland should leave as well, but I believe it’s better to be in it. Ireland gets huge benefits, like our road system, which was part funded by the EU.

“When we joined the Euro, I really felt part of Europe. Perhaps British people don’t feel that connection in part because they have to change currency to visit other European nations.

“I would rather people get the Irish passport because they wanted to and felt a connection with Ireland, rather than as a back up plan for if they wanted to go somewhere on holiday.”