Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to paragraph 52 of the Joint report from the negotiators of the European Union and the United Kingdom Government on progress during phase 1 of negotiations under Article 50 TEU on the United Kingdom's orderly withdrawal from the European Union, whether the commitment made in that paragraph includes all EU rights normally associated with residents in a Member State; and if he will list those rights.

The UK and the EU acknowledge that the Belfast (‘Good Friday’) Agreement recognises the birth right of all the people of Northern Ireland to choose to be Irish or British or both and be accepted as such. They also recognise that the people of Northern Ireland who are Irish citizens will continue to enjoy rights as EU citizens, including where they reside in Northern Ireland. The UK and the EU therefore agree that the Withdrawal Agreement should respect and be without prejudice to the rights, opportunities and identity that come with European Union citizenship for such people.

The UK has been clear that we are committed to turning all of the commitments made under the Joint Report into legally binding text - that includes those on citizenship rights for the people of Northern Ireland under the terms of the Belfast Agreement.