Brexit diplomatic engagement
The Chair welcomed Senator Richmond back, and he repeated calls for Michel Barnier and all Cabinet Ministers to come before the House to discuss Brexit preparations and solutions.
I echo the calls of my colleague, Senator Gerard P. Craughwell, to ask the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to invite the former European Commissioner, Mr. Michel Barnier, to address and actively engage with the House. As the Senator noted, we need to have a discussion on possible and suggested solutions to the challenges we face as a result of Brexit. I call on the Leader to invite every Cabinet Minister to the House to discuss how Brexit impacts on his or her area of work, what he or she is doing to prepare for Brexit and the solutions he or she intends to present as part of the Irish case at the relevant Council meetings.
One issue that has arisen is the cost of making an application for Irish citizenship. More than 320,000 United Kingdom citizens reside in the Republic and a large number of them are not entitled to apply for Irish citizenship through the grandparent or dual status rules. These individuals face bills of more than €1,000 simply to guarantee that they can remain in Ireland and married to their Irish spouse, and to allow them to continue to work and live in Ireland where they may have lived for 20 years or more. I ask the Leader to ensure the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality is the first Minister to come to the House to address all aspects of Brexit and how they impact on her brief and to specifically address the fees being applied for Irish citizenship applications.