Buy an Irish passport and duck out of getting ID Card
This reply to Sylvia Hermon’s question seems to raise more questions than it answers, but the Home Office minister’s reply gives the impression at least that if you have Irish nationality you are not obliged to carry an ID Card in the way that, say, a French citizen would be obliged to after three month’s residency in the UK.
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Irish nationals living in Northern Ireland will be required to carry a UK identity national card once they are introduced. [123500]Joan Ryan: Under Section 13(3) of the Identity Cards Act 2006, there is no authorisation to make any regulations that would require anyone to carry an identity card with them at all times once they are introduced.
The Belfast (Good Friday Agreement) confirmed that all the peoples of Northern Ireland had the right to identify themselves as Irish, British or both, as they chose.
As such, those Irish nationals who wish to identify as a dual national may choose to obtain a British passport and, in that event, would be issued with an identity card as well. The status and entitlements of those who choose not to obtain a British passport, whether they identify as Irish, British or both will remain unchanged.
However, it is the Government’s policy that, eventually, any individual who is resident in the United Kingdom for more than three months should be issued with an identity card, regardless of their nationality. Further primary legislation will need to be approved in Parliament in order to introduce such a compulsory scheme.
“That doesn’t make sense. Northern Ireland is as much a part of Ireland as the Republic is. How could an Irishman be an alien in Ireland?”
When forced to carry British ID?
Hickenlooper.
That didn’t answer his question.
Willowfield, I don´t know what the legal situation is for number plates in the UK, but I have noticed that new cars with a GB registration mostly seem to have the EU format now with the GB identifier under the flag. Such cars are very few and far between in NI. I don´t think this is a coincidence.
I can’t speak for George, Hickenlooper, but it is the very “idea” that I reject as totally unconvincing, the “fact” of whether or not ID cards are useful to the government and their agents and clients is of no concern to me.
I simply don’t swallow the whole “Dar el harb” scaremongering as I see it as merely a deflection for the latest surge of liberal imperialism spearheaded by those two rogues Bush and Blair. Now they really do scare me. Between them they have managed to kill more innocents than all the other man made threats to human life in this century. Now that is terrorism – on a grand scale.
“I swear, the second I am coerced into getting one of these, I’m moving South. “
Ah, promises promises.
As has been stated above, this isn’t about nationality, but residence. Having an ID card (which according to the above you won’t have to carry with you anyway) does not affect your nationality, nor does it make you an “alien”. Such talk is just Sinn Fein rabble rousing.
If they had any sense, and any real ambition to prevent ID cards, they’d be looking for cross-community opposition on the grounds of civil liberties. The fact that they’re more interested in waving the poor-oppressed-Irish flag (and also the lack of serious opposition from unionist quarters) only demonstrates the obvious limitations of local tribal ‘politics’.
For the record, Alien Registration Cards are still required by many residents who are not from the US or Commonwealth citizens (from 2000 – prior to 2000, any non-European had to carry one I think) I had one; it was green and I was directed to carry it with me always, to inform the police if I moved house etc.
I didn’t like it, but I accepted it. I imagine many of those who say they wouldn’t carry it will do at some point if they are made compulsory. I don’t agree with them either, waste of money etc, but once it’s out there, people will take it up. Many people are against anything which tracks their movements, but they gleefully collect Boots points or Nectar card points.
54 posts in and finally somebody blames it all on SF.
KENSEI
“That doesn’t make sense. Northern Ireland is as much a part of Ireland as the Republic is. How could an Irishman be an alien in Ireland?â€
When forced to carry British ID?
Being “forced” to carry “British ID” would not mean that NI stopped being part of Ireland!
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT
Willowfield, I don´t know what the legal situation is for number plates in the UK, but I have noticed that new cars with a GB registration mostly seem to have the EU format now with the GB identifier under the flag. Such cars are very few and far between in NI. I don´t think this is a coincidence.
No, I agree with you: I was just pointing out that the reasons are due to lack of “customer” preference, rather than any government policy. In NI, not only nationalists would be reluctant to have GB plates: many unionists resent the use of “GB” to denote UK (cf. UK Olympic team).