Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to provide an automatic right to a British passport for those born in the Republic of Ireland but who are UK (1) residents, (2) voters, and (3) taxpayers in Northern Ireland.

British citizenship is acquired automatically by those with a close and continuing connection with the UK, such as through birth here, or by descent. Many Irish nationals with a historical connection with the UK may already have British nationality and would be eligible for a British passport.

Irish nationals living in the UK who were born in the Republic of Ireland after 1 January 1949, and are not otherwise British, must apply to naturalise, based on a period of residence in the UK, should they wish to become British citizens. In this respect Irish nationals are not treated any differently to other foreign nationals.

We have no plans to change this.