#Brexit fears see massive increase in Irish passport applications

Fears overs the implications of Brexit have seen a record 900,000 Irish passports being issued in 2019, writes Ken Murray.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin, the figure represents a seven per cent increase on 2018 applications.

During peak periods, more than 5,800 applications were submitted from around the world in a single day.

The figures are phenomenal in an Irish context as the Republic of Ireland population stands at 4.8 million.

The statistics show that total monthly applications exceeded 100,000 in January, March, April and May in 2019.

The upsurge has also been made possible due to the development of a new advanced online passport service.

Commenting on the increased number of applications, Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney T.D. said,

“2019 was another bumper year for the passport service.

“The award-winning ‘Passport Online’ expanded in 2019 to include first-time applicants in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Britain and Europe.”

The massive increase in passport applications is being driven mainly by British people of Irish heritage who are concerned that certain conveniences that have become the norm in recent decades through EU membership will end once Brexit occurs.

These include not having to queue at immigration desks when travelling within the EU.

Other benefits include having access to consular services at embassies of EU States around the World when experiencing local difficulties.

Participation in the Erasmus EU student-exchange programme, the recognition of Irish qualifications across the European Union and possession of the European Health Insurance Card are also significant factors.

Over 94,000 first-time passport applications were received from people born in the United Kingdom including Northern Ireland which is under British rule.

Speaking recently, Niall Collins TD of the main Irish opposition party Fianna Fáil said,

“The Irish passport has always been held in high esteem and it’s becoming obvious that Brexit has compounded the demand as people living in the UK and Northern Ireland become increasingly worried about what impact Brexit will have on their daily lives and their ability to travel."

The signs are that applications for Irish passports are likely to increase further in the coming months once the UK leaves the EU as Ireland will be the largest english-speaking country in the European Union.

Ireland will also remain the largest english-speaking country in the EU to use the Euro currency which will continue to make it attractive to foreign investors who view the Country’s 12.5 per cent corporation tax rate and highly educated work force as a major plus when setting up a European base.

Despite a housing shortage in the greater Dublin area and unemployment now standing at 3.8 per cent, Ireland continues to have one of the best performing economies in the EU as well as a continually improving international credit rating following on from its massive economic crash in 2008.

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