(Thread) Concern & unrest grows over citizenship rights in Northern Ireland, amplified with the Brexit deadline approaching & furthered by the inability of the UK Home Office to adhere to legislation, current international law & the UK governments commitments to the #GFA
Politicians, immigration practitioner’s, academics and Irish citizens wrote to both @sajidjavid & @simoncoveney about these concerns. Letters that were delivered collectively on September 11th. No response has been received from either party to date.
Those who wrote personal statements are Irish citizens, born in Northern Ireland, having their Irish citizenship questioned or stripped by the UK Home Office. They sought assistance from their government, the Irish government, which has a duty of care to all of us in the North.
Immmigration practitioner's also wrote stating "... I have seen statements made in court that a person couldn’t be Irish if born to a parent from Northern Ireland. These are just some random examples but the incidents are constant and occur at all levels.” #WeAreIrishtoo
Parties across Northern Ireland shared their concerns @sinnfeinireland @SDLPlive @allianceparty They too received no response from the Home Secretary and Tanaiste.
"The people of Northern Ireland who are Irish citizens will continue to enjoy rights as EU citizens, including where they reside in Northern Ireland.” Sounds good but what's actually happening... irishcentral.com/travel/moving-…
What is needed is clarity over our rights and entitlements in Northern Ireland. No NI citizen should have their GFA right to identify questioned by a government sworn to protect it & no NI citizen should have their EU right to family life denied #HostileEnvironment
For us, a 3 year legal battle will now be 4 after the UK Home Office requested an adjournment. We have two decisions in our favour as I maintain my right as an Irish citizen to stabilise my spouse’s status within the UK.
I'm asking both @sajidjavid & @simoncoveney to read these letters of concern. Take the time to look at these very real issues, take the time to respond to the people that wrote to you for help. Both government's have a duty of care & both are failing these citizens #WeAreIrishtoo
