Should people who voted for Brexit be allowed to apply for an Irish Passport?

[Berlinlover]

I have two cousins who were born and raised in England who have an Irish father and an English mother. Both my cousins voted for Brexit and are now applying for Irish passports. I’m Irish and living in Ireland and this makes me absolutely furious. They are both women in their 50s who never wanted an Irish passport until now. They have no interest whatsoever in Irish history and anything related to Ireland. They’re not even embarrassed that they voted for Brexit and see an Irish passport as a way of skipping queues at the airport. It seems so unfair on those who voted to remain but don’t have an Irish parent/grandparent so can’t apply for an Irish passport.

My mother in law has done the same. Boils my blood. The absolute gall of cutting off her grandchildren from free movement around Europe but keeping it for herself. I struggle to look at her.

One of my parents did this. Fuming doesn't cover it! 😆😡

If they are eligible, it's none of your business. Simmer down.

Legal answer: Well even if they said how they voted, voting in our democracy is entirely anonymous and so you couldn't exclude someone from something on the basis of how they voted, because to all intents and purposes you don't know and cannot prove it. They are eligible regardless.

Additional observation: Does it make them raging hypocrites? Of course it does.

Exactly this.
Boohoo

Votes are secret for a very good reason. You may have vocal, asinine cousins but not everyone is the same and our voting rates are low enough without threatening the secrecy aspect.

It’s annoying and they should be embarrassed but what can you do?

I have Irish heritage but unfortunately it goes back further than grandparents otherwise I’d do the same although in my case I didn’t vote for Brexit.

Voting is anonymous.

If they Northern Ireland then I can definitely understand it. Elsewhere in the UK I can understand your point.

My brother in law did this. He’s not even slightly embarrassed about it.

Tommy Robinson, racist cunt, did it.

I realise that but they’re happy to tell anyone who’ll listen that they voted for Brexit which makes it all the more infuriating!

Shame them! Call them out on it to their faces! I’ve just got my Irish passport, but I voted remain and I’m very much in touch with all my Irish cousins (all our parents are dead now sadly). I’m going over to visit them all next year, can’t wait.

Bloody nerve of them!!
Sadly if they're entitled, they're entitled. But if it was me id never shut the fuck up about their hypocrisy

Yes, we don’t want political opinions to be part of an eligibility process, that’s a grim path to go down. They’re hypocrites but it is what it is.

Of course they should. Republics regulate their own citizenship.

I get that it's annoying if you wanted to remain and they didn't, and I accept that most are probably doing it for the EU passport, but ultimately Britain needs to work out how to cope with Brexit without making it anyone else's problem.

People who voted for Brexit should be drop-kicked into the bloody sea.

Irish sea seems fitting for these two.

Friend of DH, a vocal brexit supporter asked me to sign for his Irish passport.
I refused!
I know quite a few brexiteers who have done this. Most have an Irish grandparent and are doing for ease of holidays rather than any brexit regret. It makes my blood boil.
Most brexiteers I know have no way out, and that does make me happy.

It’s annoying but if they have an Irish parent born on the island of Ireland they’re already Irish citizens and entitled to an Irish passport. Feel free to point out their hypocrisy though.

There's nothing to be done, but you can still register your great displeasure the next time you see her 😈
(Shame ancestry citizenship doesn't involve the same oath sworn by naturalised citizens)

BTW I get the impression the DFA is starting to reconsider the ‘One grandparent born on this island’ requirement.
The circs which made that reasonable no longer apply, and its generosity/elasticity was certainly exploited by many with no intention of ever acknowledging Ireland in their lives, after Brexit.
I’d imagine it'll be tightened up and at least that particular access to an Irish passport will be removed.

How could you prove anything though ? Irish passport is one of tge most desirable in the world . My UK cousins were falling over themselves to get grandparents documents to apply for passports . The old granny clause is why we have so many Premier League footballers playing for Ireland 🇮🇪.

Nooo! Bloody hell Ireland should never let him in!

YANBU OP. Absolute cheek.

My NI PILs did just this. In fact, they applied the day after they voted for Brexit. Staunchly British but like the travel options. I pointed out the hypocrisy. The reply - we are entitled. There could not be a more apt word. I am still appalled.