MPs request government abolish naturalisation fees for Irish citizens

Article summary

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee has published a report requesting the government abolish British naturalisation fees for Irish citizens, criticising the rule for failing to reflect the historical nuances of the issue. Naturalisation costs £1,330 and requires passing the ‘Life in the UK’ test and attending a mandatory citizenship ceremony. The Committee stated that this seems inappropriate for Irish citizens who have lived most their lives in Northern Ireland. The Committee has also urged the UK and Irish Governments to agree on the correct interpretation for the terms ‘identify’ and ‘be accepted as’ within the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. Finally, MPs are calling for the government to simplify the British citizen renunciation process for those wishing to assert their Irish-only identity.