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.

I have some sympathy with your view. I’m an Irish passport holder (as well as a British one) but have had it well before Brexit. And I voted to remain. My daughter is applying for one now and she voted remain too.

Of course they can apply for an Irish passport! Dublin isn’t going to be in the least bit interested in who voted for Brexit.I am entitled to an Irish passport,but I am damn sure I wouldn’t divulge to anyone how I voted!
What an idiotic thing to get in a tizz about.My daughter has an Irish passport.no idea how she voted,I wouldn’t be so rude as to ask.Nobody’s business.

Post-Brexit record number of Irish passport applications in UK last year
www.rte.ie/news/world/2025/1114/1541666-ireland-uk-passports/

So they need to go to the British Embassy. The Irish Embassy isn't going to send them to Britain after they lose an Irish passport.

And yes, a little bit of disruption after losing a passport can be upsetting - everything feels stressful. But getting from Dublin to anywhere in the UK is easy - I'm sure they get over the short term stress quick enough. It's not Outer Siberia

Irish passports are easier to get through ancestry than those of most countries in the world. You won't get a British passport because of your grandmother who emigrated 100 years ago.

Don’t Be so ridiculous - voting is anonymous - so even if they said they had voted for Brexit, there is no way of proving it!

Grow up!

We get on very well with British blow ins hereabouts. There is one married couple who assured me that Brexit would not be a problem for us because ' Ireland will obviously have to leave the EU as well , now that Britain has gone.'

But they're definitely outliers. It's true as a PP says that Irish pensions are higher. But prices are higher too - although England is catching up fast ?

Yes, obviously raise the issue if it still bothers you, but some are absolutely frothing at the mouth still, and I’m pointing out that it’s wasted energy as it’s done. I think we all know the strength of feeling on both sides, but maybe channel that anger into something that you can change.

Mnet posters should and will continue to talk about the disaster that was Brexit and the difficulties it continues to cause.

I don't understand why Brexiteers want us to shut up.

Because they are embarrassed and a reminder of their stupidity makes them uncomfortable.

Twats.

That makes sense.

I'm not arguing with your right to be annoyed. I'm arguing with the disgusting tone of contempt for people who you think voted the wrong way, which is used to express that annoyance.

I haven't just seen annoyance on this thread. I've seen open, naked hatred. If you think stoking hatred of a significant proportion of the public is likely to lead long term to a really positive outcome, fill your boots. I have my doubts though.

How would you even police it?

I would be a lot less critical of those who apply for Irish passports and voted for Brexit, if they acknowledged it was a mistake and none of the things they hoped for have been achieved.

No, they shouldn’t be allowed to - it’s totally hypocritical.

YABVU. If they're entitled to one they should get one. As some posters have said, 'boo hoo, suck it up!' 😝

Many Leave voters regret Brexit now.

I presume there are many people qualified for Irish passports who voted for Brexit, still believe it was the right choice for Britain, and, being Irish, feel entitled to dual citizenship and the benefits it brings.

There is a lot of black and white thinking on this thread.

Why are we singling out Irish passports here, anyway?

I think a lot of people just know people who applied for an Irish passport since Brexit. It's easier because of the grandparent rule.
I don't know anyone who has applied for another EU passport, everyone I know entitled to one had it already.

I know a few who have gone to other countries' passports. It just comes across as if Britain can demand this and the Irish government will do as it's told - though I know that's not what's intended.

Anyway, the British government could ban dual passports, like other states. They'd almost certainly have to make an exception for people born in Northern Ireland, of course.

And I think people just writing about Irish passports as if they should be a reward for good behaviour are failing to understand why the Irish government has a reasonably expensive policy on passports. Apart from the NI situation, it reflects that fact that Ireland has a large diaspora and many people left unwillingly when the state couldn't provide for them. These people and their descendants are Irish. They've a right to Irish passports.

No they shouldn't. I think the Irish government needs to tighten their policy. Dual nationality shouldn't be allowed either for those in the North. It should be one or the other.

Why should the Irish government tighten its policy rather than the British government?

And why do they need to, anyway? How is it harming Ireland?

I didn't actually realise I was entitled to an Irish passport until my Dad died and I had to go through probate in Ireland ( Dad was born in the North). As soon as I could, I applied for one. And I do have many links to Ireland and visit at least twice a year. Also applied for my youngest daughters FBR as she had to go to Italy as part of Uni in 2021, and getting all the paperwork to allow her to stay more than 90 days was an absolute nightmare.🙄
And we all voted Remain in our house.