Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Section 2(1) of the Ireland Act 1949, what the status of Irish citizens will be after the UK leaves the EU.

The close historic, social and cultural ties between the UK and Ireland have led to the creation of additional rights above those associated with common membership of the EU. The special status afforded to Irish citizens within the UK is rooted in the Ireland Act 1949 and, for the people of Northern Ireland, in the 1998 Belfast Agreement. As outlined in the UK Government policy paper released on 26 June, relating to the rights of EU citizens living in the UK, we want to protect the rights enjoyed by UK and Irish nationals when in the other State.

We remain committed to preserving the rights of Irish citizens within the UK.