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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:
senzaparole03 · 18/12/2017 11:17

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.

Perhaps read the thread and understand the OP's motivations. Baby's welfare is a key reason for needing to relocate from her current situation, and is reasonably looking at options without leaving the UK.

senzaparole03 · 18/12/2017 11:20

People live and work and study in America and many other countries around the world already.

For which they apply and pay for visas (those that are not rejected), and pay significant fees for those international studies.

Have you looked at what non-EU students pay for studies in the EU? have you looked at how difficult it is to get sponsorship for work permits outside of Europe? Let's not pretend it's all rosy in the garden.

LellyMcKelly · 18/12/2017 11:21

I’d go to Northern Ireland. Your baby would be eligible for dual citizenship and the quality of care there is very high.

senzaparole03 · 18/12/2017 11:22

Plus, northern ireland is beautiful!

danTDM · 18/12/2017 11:24

TBH the goalposts keep shifting, now it is NI to set up a new life there. Originally 'it was the island of Ireland' 'to make use of the law' that her baby would have an Irish (E.U) passport. To just give birth there!

I think the OP to some extent is just thinking our loud about her options. Which of course INBU!

ethelfleda · 18/12/2017 11:29

YANBU and completely understand why. Luckily for us, DH is Irish and has an Irish passport (was born in Dublin) so I am applying for an Irish passport for DS. We may look in to moving there eventually as there is more of a family network over there for us but in the meantime it makes me feel better that DS will have an EU passport.

charlestonchaplin · 18/12/2017 11:32

NI is part of the island of Ireland!

FizzyGreenWater · 18/12/2017 11:32

If you are moving anyway, I cannot see much of a difference in moving to NI than to any other part of the UK really, especially if you say that you plan to spend the summer there anyway.

It also sounds as if being a significant distance from your ex might be a good idea.

Re discussions about quality of care, I really think that's probably a moot point. Maternity care is pretty dire in lots of UK locations, and no matter where you are it really is a mixture of a care lottery and the luck of the draw depending on how your birth goes, how busy that week is, etc. I wouldn't be making decisions to stay or go anywhere based on anecdotal or even stats data on maternity care really. Moving somewhere you feel safe, happy and if possible have support is far more important.

ittakes2 · 18/12/2017 11:33

The Uk has lots of agreements with other countries for travelling and working visas. Agreed we don’t know what the uk will arrange with Europe but it’s likely to be something. I’m not from a European country but still managed to legally work in the Uk for almost 10 years - starting with unskilled work and eventually finishing in a managerial position.

danTDM · 18/12/2017 11:35

Yes, of course, but she said she was British, living in Britain and was going to use the law outside Britain in the island of Ireland. That's at least how it came across to me and several others. Didn't sound like she meant NI at that point.

I was explaining kindly how the misunderstanding happened!

charlestonchaplin · 18/12/2017 11:38

danTDM I did at one point think like you but when I re-examined the OP I couldn't really say for definite that that was what she meant.

Personwithhorse · 18/12/2017 11:38

I can’t understand the Brexit hysteria. The EU is a disaster, it was OK when it was just the wealthy countries, but dragging in Greece, Romania etc, all very corrupt was a serious mistake. It will fall apart anyway in the next few years.

Educated or wealthy people were always able to live in Europe in the past

senzaparole03 · 18/12/2017 11:40

Yes, of course, but she said she was British, living in Britain and was going to use the law outside Britain in the island of Ireland. That's at least how it came across to me and several others. Didn't sound like she meant NI at that point.

NI isn't in Britain. It's in the UK.

SilentlyScreamingAgain · 18/12/2017 11:41

It's quite cheap to give birth in Ireland, if nothing goes wrong you'll get change out of €4K in Cork, have a very pleasant experience, nice room and good food. Please don't add any extra burden to our public system.

Aki99 · 18/12/2017 11:41

Would it work though? I was born in Germany but I do not have German nationality. I have no idea how it would work during any changeover after Brexit

haveacupoftea · 18/12/2017 11:41

Hospitals in NI are being closed left right and centre and can hardly keep up with the demands of people who actually live here. You are being selfish.

FuckFaulkerILikeTheGruffalo · 18/12/2017 11:42

I am pretty sure that a child born in NI after 2004 when it does not have Northern Irish or Irish parents isn't elligble for an Irish passport. I was reading up on this a while ago, it's on the irish passport website?

FuckFaulkerILikeTheGruffalo · 18/12/2017 11:49

Also, I think you even considering this is appalling OP. The idea of health tourism never bothered me, I always thought it best people from countries with poorer healthcare get better healthcare here. But going and abusing the already stretched maternity services in NI for a passport.... YABSFU. I'm from NI and I do not like this one bit.

senzaparole03 · 18/12/2017 11:50

Also, I think you even considering this is appalling OP. The idea of health tourism never bothered me, I always thought it best people from countries with poorer healthcare get better healthcare here. But going and abusing the already stretched maternity services in NI for a passport.... YABSFU. I'm from NI and I do not like this one bit.

But she's thinking about relocating there indefinitely.

MadForlt · 18/12/2017 11:52

Interesting how one person going from the UK to Ireland to give birth is a horrendous stretch on maternity services - but I'm pretty sure there has been many, many more people travelling the other way to get terminations, so an overstretched NHS in the UK.

expatinscotland · 18/12/2017 11:52

You're moving to NI this Summer, when are you actually due?

danTDM · 18/12/2017 11:53

no, they have to go private and pay.

MadForlt · 18/12/2017 11:54

Yes, I realise that the procedure isn't available in Ireland - but if it's ok for some people to go one way, then a lesser amount going the other way shouldn't be frowned upon quite so much.

danTDM · 18/12/2017 11:56

I don't understand Madforit Irish nationals who can't get an abortion come over to the UK and PAY. It is not done on the NHS.

MadForlt · 18/12/2017 11:57

Oh I do apologise - it's only women from Northern Ireland that can get free abortions. Ignore me!

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