to think that it is ludicrous that you can not work here (Irish citizen) without a passport?

[WildeWoman]

FFS.
I'm Irish.
Eligible to work here.
Want to work.
Went to agency meeting today ahead of job interview.
Apparently, you can't work here without a passport unless you are British.

Am I the last to know?

Oh - and before you ask, passport was stolen. It will take 6 weeks for new one to issue.

Such bollox.

They are wrong. You do not need a passport to prove you have the right to work in the UK
According to gov.uk site you would need to show either an official letter from a government agency or previous employer that had your name and NI number AND your birth/adoption certificate.

CharlesRoi, a U.K. birth certificate. The RO Ireland is not in the UK!!!

"A birth or adoption certificate issued in the Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Ireland together with an official document giving the persons permanent NI number............will also demonstrate the right to work"

Who pays for the passport for those on benefits ?

The problem is that until fairly recently it wasn't common to have a full birth certificate stating names of parents etc as they cost more. It was only when the law changed & you needed a full birth certificate to get a first passport that registrars started to advise getting them. Dd was born in 2001 & has a short birth cert, ds was born in 2004 & had to have a full one.

If you havnt got a full one you need a passport.

balletgirlmum - that is interesting - I have the NI number, but no card/letter with it on it? Could I write to someone to ask them to issue me a card? I don't recall being issued a card, just a letter with the number on it. I know it off by heart. Although, I have previous payslips with the NI# on it?
Basically, everything I owned was stolen. Unbelievable? Maybe. True? Yes.
I updated agency with timeframe and he replied asking whether I could somehow get it fast-tracked.

Fucking hell.

Such a bollox.

Just to annoy David bloody Cameron I'm going to sign on benefits in the morning.

To answer the poster who queried whether they would wait 6 weeks - I doubt it. The person I would be replacing is leaving at the of the month so they need someone immediately for handover of a week.

If the letter has been issued by a government agency you need that. They don't actually issue NI cards anymore.

It also says a document from a previous employer is fine too, let me check the actual wording.

Sorry, I think YABU. I moved here from Ireland in 1996, and I was aware that I'd need my passport for everything really, especially as I don't have a driving license.

It says an official document issued by a previous employer so def a P45 or P46. I would imagine a payslip would do - I'd accept it snyway.

Interesting. I don't recall ever having to show my passport for work anywhere. I've worked in several countries too. Is it just that agency that needs a passport for i.d.?

balletgirl - that piece you've quoted - can you send me a link to where you found that?
This could quite literally be make or break for me. I know you can request your NI# if you've forgotten it (as I had to do previously!), so that document along with my original birth cert should suffice?
If so, it would tide them over until I receive the passport?
If this is the case, it should be more widely advertised!

I've heard about opposition over here to National Identity cards? Eh - it seems this passport requirement is the sly Tory way around it.

Interestingly, you do NOT need a passport to apply for benefits as an Irish citizen.

Last 3 employers I've had insisted on seeing (and copying) my passport.

Lets hope no employer ever loses these copies. Presumably HMG will reimburse anyone whose identity gets stolen ?

It seems unreasonable as you clearly do have proof of identity.
A passport isn't essential for a DBS check.

Scroll down to page 13.

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/441957/employers_guide_to_acceptable_right_to_work_documents_v5.pdf

National insurance numbers don't come with a card anymore you could call them and verify yourself and get the number.

You can def replace a passport in a lot less then six weeks, I think its ridiculous as Irish citizens have the right to work in the UK a bit of common sense would go a long way here.

No Moln. I queried that. So, he waited for his expert to come back from lunch (also Irish apparently - though with an English accent - so long term I'd say), and she confirmed it. She must be their compliance person or something.
They tried every which way they possibly could to figure out a way around it. They are a very well known international brand though, so I guess rules is rules etc.

Ach Moln. Is is 'cos I iz Oirish? ;)

I can't whatsforsupper without returning to Ireland and applying there. And then, I would need to be there for some weeks to build up documentation there to apply.
Problem is that it's a stolen passport. Not as straightforward as a renewal.

I know my NI #. I have payslips with it on them.

How did your Passport get stolen...

As I say some UK post offices do an express service for Irish passports. Takes a lot less than 6 weeks.

What do the Dept of foreign affairs suggest when someone is say on holiday and needs a new passport don't they expedite it so they can get home?

whatsforsupper - I could tell ya - but then................. ya know how this goes...........

Let's just say that if I told you, you wouldn't believe me.
The police didn't. Until 2 months later. Then they decided that maybe it had been stolen and rang me to make a statement (probably recovered in the course of something untoward). Don't talk to me about it, because it just riles me.

They issue you with a one way travel passport thingy whatsforsupper

Is that just because it's stolen, Wilde? I've had my Irish passport renewed from here, (I sent it to the passport office in Dublin ), and it didn't take long.