The Brexit saga continues…
British Prime Minister Theresa May has refused to rule out a change in the status of Irish nationals living in Britain and suggested that any negotiations on the matter will be part of a broader deal concerning the rights of EU citizens.
Following Britain’s exit from the EU, they will be free to strike up a deal which allows them to choose the rights of Irish and EU citizens in the UK.
“The issue of the rights of citizens of the Republic of Ireland, as you say, is on a different and longstanding historical basis from other members of the European Union. Obviously I’ve been clear that I want to at an early stage look at how we deal with these issues of people from other countries within the European Union who are living within the UK in order to offer reassurance,” May said.
“I’ve been clear in relation to citizens of the EU as a whole that we want to ensure that we also see UK citizens living elsewhere being treated on a reciprocal basis.”
Her comments suggest that any deal struck with Ireland will be on a quid pro quo basis and are dependent on how negotiations go with the EU.
According to the Ireland Act, 1949, Ireland is regarded as “not a foreign country” for the purposes of UK laws and hence Irish citizens have a special status in the UK.
Speaking on the issue of the status of Irish citizens in the UK last month, Brexit Secretary David Davis said: “The aim, as I said to you before, is that the common travel area rights – including the rights to vote, the rights to work and so on, both ways – will continue, but I will come back to you about the detail.”
But then again, this is the man who seemed to think not so long ago that Ireland is part of the UK.
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