The Embassy of Ireland in Luxembourg has issued a statement in which the Ambassador of Ireland, Peadar Carpenter, has advised UK passport holders that there is no rush to apply for Irish passports as the negotiations for the UK to withdraw from the EU will take a number of years to negotiate.
The full statement read:
"Our Embassy here in Luxembourg has over the last while received a noticeable increase in communications from the holders of UK passports, and particularly since the recent result of the referendum was announced. This has put additional pressure on our passport service during the peak period for passport applications.
I would like to advise UK passport holders that the negotiations for the UK to withdraw from the EU will take a number of years to negotiate, and there is plenty of speculation as to how long it will take! When these negotiations begin and until they are completed, UK passport holders continue to enjoy the full rights of EU citizens, including free movement within the EU.
During this period there is no urgency for UK passport holders to apply for Irish citizenship or an Irish passport. Full details and FAQ as to who is entitled to Irish citizenship, i.e. people born on the island of Ireland (including Northern Ireland) or people having a parent or grandparent born on the island, is available on the website https://www.dfa.ie/passports-citizenship/citizenship/
Applications for renewal of passports will continue to be prioritised to facilitate persons with imminent travel plans. Holders of UK passports will continue to enjoy freedom of movement for the moment. Any holders of UK passports, who are also entitled to an Irish passport, should check the conditions and documents required to make an application on the Embassy website. Perhaps they might consider holding off on this until a later date, and out of our peak season."
