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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU to move to Ireland to give birth

331 replies

DahlTheGalah · 18/12/2017 08:17

So that my baby would be an Irish and therefore EU citizen?

It seems farfetched to me, but I'm half serious. I am still so sad about Brexit, and being pregnant is bringing it home more as I've had the most wonderful and enriching experiences studying, living and working in Europe and am sad my baby may well not have those opportunities in the same way.

Currently, babies born on the island of Ireland to British Nationals get Irish (and therefore EU) citizenship. I am not Irish, but British currently living in Britain, and would be just making use of this law.

Has anyone else thought of doing this for the same reasons, or actually gone ahead?

How U am I being?

OP posts:
HermioneAndTheSniffle · 18/12/2017 10:31

Xpost

YY it makes sense for you to go to NI as you would stay in your own country and it would give you the advantage of protecting your dc from loosing its eu citizenship.

LivLemler · 18/12/2017 10:31

I'm not a fan of birth tourism in general, but in your case it sounds like a plan that could work since you're considering moving here. NI is a fabulous place to live (just ration the amount of time you pay attention to the politics), I'd recommend it to anyone.

senzaparole03 · 18/12/2017 10:32

I hadn’t really meant this thread to be so much about my own silly situation though as about the concept in general.

I think that relocating to an area of your own country, where you have some important additional rights for your child, and not be too much of a cultural or distance change, is a really fair and realistic option.

Definitely worth exploring feasibility, I'd say.

Waterdropsdown · 18/12/2017 10:32

Well the staying there anyway and the father being a danger makes the whole thing seem more like a normal thing to do. Strange you didn’t mention this at the start as it kind of changes the whole reasoning.

DonnyAndVladSittingInATree · 18/12/2017 10:33

Amazing how things change. Nobody gave a damn about NI a year ago. N where? Is that near cork? now it’s the place to be. Can you please spend a fortune when you are here OP? Local shops. Not Tesco or new look. Wink

Waterdropsdown · 18/12/2017 10:34

The concept of moving your life and happening to give birth their is perfectly normal. Just going somewhere else to give birth and then returning is not fair on anyone as you are taking services from those in the local community without giving that community anything back and I personally have ill feeling towards people who do this.

DonnyAndVladSittingInATree · 18/12/2017 10:35

I have to say I’m finding it fucking hilarious how NI is suddenly “the same country” As England. When it suits.

TriJo · 18/12/2017 10:37

I'm Irish and living in the UK - while the 8th amendment is still a thing I wouldn't even consider having a baby in the Republic.

EmilyChambers79 · 18/12/2017 10:38

I love the fact no one gives a fuck about Ireland or Northern Ireland until it benefits them

This.

Seems an awful lot of upheaval to move there, give birth, register birth, get a passport, move back and all because you want them to work and travel in Europe, both of which they can do after Brexit anyway?

VladmirsPoutine · 18/12/2017 10:39

As a concept it sounds grand. The reality of giving birth and adjusting to a new place might not be a walk in the park but as far as long-term thinking wrt EU citizenship then I'd do it.
A friend of mine is only dating EU nationals in her quest for a husband.

cuirderussie · 18/12/2017 10:43

badb that's not true. I had nuchal fold testing and the triple test on the public maternity system in Ireland. It's true that some hospitals are much better than others.

OP I'm sorry you're having a hard time. Forgive the tetchiness of us Irish posters, we're really feeling the Brexit fallout lately, especially when it had nothing to do with us.

senzaparole03 · 18/12/2017 10:44

badb that's not true. I had nuchal fold testing and the triple test on the public maternity system in Ireland. It's true that some hospitals are much better than others.

No consistent standard anomoly scans either.

QuimReaper · 18/12/2017 10:52

A quick read back of the thread will show you the op was talking about the Republic of Ireland not NI she said she has family in Dublin so that was where she was thinking about coming.

Not sure where you got that from Dulra, it's literally the opposite of what the OP said:

I was thinking more of Northern Ireland for this (though my own family connections are in Dublin).

Lunde · 18/12/2017 10:57

Have you checked out how citizenship works in Ireland?

Not many countries confer citizenship just for being born there! I had my children in Sweden but they did not get Swedish citizenship. They were first eligible after 5 years of residence.

MargaretCavendish · 18/12/2017 10:59

Have you checked out how citizenship works in Ireland?

She has, but you evidently haven't read the thread!

danTDM · 18/12/2017 11:00

Like Hermione initially it seemed very clear in my head that you meant ROI which would BVU and is a moot point as you have left it too late to reside there for a year before giving birth. It would be practically impossible and very expensive.

If it's NI then no, YANBU but again, it's going to be logistically hard.

I live in Spain, here you would need an address and residency and your SIP health card (very, very, very difficult to get these days if you don't have a Spanish DH and proof of taxes paid and lots of funds) you also need to have been here a while. They are being super vigilant about health tourism in general and rightly so IMO. I think every country is like this now isn't it?

Healthcare and maternity in Spain is AMAZING though! Smile

Best of luck OP sounds like you are in a tricky spot, a new life in NI might be perfect for you if you can organise it all. Flowers

badb · 18/12/2017 11:03

cuirderussie Really? That's interesting. I won't ask you where, but I was under the impression it was not offered, but was up to you to pursue. One of my friends went public in CUMH, and it was up to her to ask for the test, get a sterling bank draft to pay for the testing as it is sent off to the UK, and send it herself. This was three years ago, mind. Another of my friends was told by the sonographer that the 'nuchal fold looked fine' (in Holles St) and another was told nothing at all (also Holles St, at the same scan - 12 weeks, possibly?).

senza, no. I'm very glad that I live in Dublin, though I know that doesn't guarantee good care.

It's crazy that lottery of geography impacts on your care so much. I know somebody in Leitrim recently pregnant and is getting one scan at 23 weeks, and that's it.

EmilyChambers79 · 18/12/2017 11:03

Healthcare and maternity in Spain is AMAZING though

I needed emergency care while on holiday there and the Dr I saw and the treatment I received was absolutely amazing. Couldn't fault a thing. The Dr was absolutely brilliant

Allthewaves · 18/12/2017 11:07

Have you lived in northern ireland? It's not at all like rest of the UK. Religious divide is still very much a problem, most schools are divided. You have to be careful of the area you choose to live in - we are taking streets apart from ok area to not so good. There is still bomb alerts - horrifies my english relatives.

You need to do your research.

danTDM · 18/12/2017 11:07

Currently, babies born on the island of Ireland to British Nationals get Irish (and therefore EU) citizenship. I am not Irish, but British currently living in Britain, and would be just making use of this law.

Yes, it wa this, in your original post that made it sound like you meant ROI I think.

cuirderussie · 18/12/2017 11:08

badb I remember asking for it as I was late 30s -possibly I wouldn't have been offered it, I'm not sure. This was Holles St, a few years ago. The level of care is very inconsistent around the country, I was shocked that so many hospitals don't do 20 week scans at all.

danTDM · 18/12/2017 11:10

Yes it is great Emily. So efficient! If you need emergency healthcare on holiday you can't beat it!

Having a baby though, is planned of course, so if you don't have the proper Spanish healthcare card/residency etc you could not give birth here.

Olympiathequeen · 18/12/2017 11:10

I would never travel to another country, to a hospital I didn’t know and doctors and midwives who didn’t know me for some silly ideological reason. My baby’s welfare is far more important than the EU, Brexit or my own selfish reasons.

People live and work and study in America and many other countries around the world already. Do you think the Eu is going to put up major barriers to this in the future? If so, why? It’s in no ones interest to do anything but maintain close (but different) ties.

BerkInBag · 18/12/2017 11:10

If the OP is going to relocate to NI and settle down there, work, live, educate child there, contribute to community etc then I suppose that puts a slightly different complexion on the matter.

EssentialHummus · 18/12/2017 11:13

Olympia I’m not sure she’s being purely ideological. Think about the difference in uni fees if the child decides to study there - I doubt our current arrangements on this will hold.