Senator Terry Leyden has urged people to consider applying for a British passport once the UK leaves the EU. He said people should "not be ashamed" to apply if it meant easier access to the UK.

A person born in the Republic before January 1949, with a parent born in Ireland before March 1922, was entitled to a British passport.

Apply Online: passportapplication.service.gov.uk/ips-olc/

Legislation
The United Kingdom's Ireland Act 1949 came into force on 18 April 1949 and recognised the end of the Irish state's status as a British dominion, which had been effected under the Irish Republic of Ireland Act 1948 brought into force in 1949.
​
Section 5 of the 1949 Act conferred Citizenship of the UK and Colonies (CUKC) on any Irish-born person meeting all the following criteria:[8]

• was born before 6 December 1922 in what became the Republic of Ireland;
• was domiciled outside the Republic of Ireland on 6 December 1922;
• was ordinarily resident outside the Republic of Ireland from 1935 to 1948; and
• was not registered as an Irish citizen under Irish legislation.

If a person was born in the Republic before January 1949, with a parent born in Ireland before March 1922, there are entitled to a British passport.

Senator Terry Leyden, Vice Chairperson of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs and Head of Delegation to COSAC Meeting 13th - 15th.November 2016, Bratislava,Slovakia  addressed COSAC Conference after Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Mr. Robert Fico spoke on topic "State of Play of the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union"

Senator Leyden informed the conference of the concerns in Ireland arising from decision of UK on 23rd.June 2016 to leave the European Union. "We in Ireland share a 499KM border with United Kingdom and we have €1.2 Billion Trade every week. No other European Union Country is so affected and we seek an open Border between Ireland & UK". He invited Delegates to visit Ireland next year to view reality of Brexit and the open Border on movement of people,goods and services.

END OF PRESS RELEASE

ISSUED BY SENATOR TERRY LEYDEN FROM CONFERENCE CENTRE IN BRATISLAVA CASTLE,SLOVAKIA.


Photo Stream from the event: https://www.flickr.com/photos/143153559@N08/sets/72157674834746902

What is COSAC?
COSAC (fr. Conférence des organs spécialisés en affaires communautaires) unifies European Affairs Committees of national parliaments of EU Member States, as well as Members of the European Parliament.

Plenary COSAC meetings are held twice a year and each national Parliament is represented. Each plenary meeting is prepared at a preceding separate meeting of the EU Affairs Committee Chairpersons (usually at the beginning of the Presidential semester).

I posed the following question to President of France, Francois Hollande as he addressed Council of Europe today, 11 October 2016
"On my own behalf and Irish Delegation Failte,Welcome President Hollande. We in Ireland are deeply concerned of the economic impact of Brexit on Ireland, having a 499 KM Border with United Kingdom and €1 billion euro trade in goods and services every week.
We are the only Country in Europe with a border within Ireland with UK. Would you Mr.President support Ireland having representative at negotiations between European Union and U.K to protect our vital economic interests.

http://assembly.coe.int/Documents/Records/2016/E/1610111000E.htm

      Mr LEYDEN (Ireland, Spokesperson for the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe) – On my own behalf, and on behalf of the Irish delegation and my ALDE colleagues, I say fáilte – welcome – to President Hollande. We in Ireland are deeply concerned about the economic impact of Brexit, as we have a 499 km border with the United Kingdom, and €1 billion in trade in goods and services every week, and are the only country in Europe with a border, within Ireland, with the United Kingdom. Mr President, would you support Ireland having a representative at the negotiations between the European Union and the United Kingdom to protect our economic interests in this regard?

      Mr HOLLANDE* – Brexit was a decision made by the British people and now, of course, that has to be fully respected and implemented. I had hoped that the negotiations would start quickly, but Theresa May, the British Prime Minister, prefers to put them off and open the negotiations in March, and we respect that. There can be no negotiations between now and then. As of March, the European Commission together with the European Council will be able to engage in negotiations that determine the conditions under which the United Kingdom will leave the European Union. Obviously, certain issues directly affect Ireland and that will have to be taken into consideration by European Commission negotiators, in close consultation with the Irish authorities. Having been to Ireland – I visited Dublin recently – I have made it clear what the situation is and what rules will need to be applied. At present, the United Kingdom is an integral part of the European Union, but when the negotiations start, what you said will have to be taken into consideration.

It was a great honour to be elected vice-chairman of the Joint Committee on European Affairs at a meeting in Leinster House on Tuesday.

I was proposed for the role by Deputy Sean Haughey. I defeated Deputy Bernard Durkan (Fine Gael) by seven votes to three.

About the Joint Committee on European Affairs
The European Union Affairs Committee plays a key role in informing debate on the European Union in Ireland by fully considering important EU developments and initiatives affecting Ireland and in holding the Government to account in Ireland’s relations with Europe

See details of election: oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/committeetakes/EUJ2016100400002?opendocument#A00300

The Leader of Fianna Fail Michael Martin T.D.has Appointed Senator Terry Leyden a full Member of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly which was established as part of the Good Friday Agreement.

Senator Leyden will attend Assembly on Sunday 3rd July to Tuesday 5th.July at  Malahide,Dublin with Delegates from England,Northern Ireland,Wales,Jersey, Guernsey & Isle of Man. www.britishirish.org/

Senator Leyden in a statement has welcomed Appointment especially arising from Referendum Vote in UK with decision to leave the European Union. The Assemble will continue to be a forum for Elected Politicians from UK, Northern
Ireland,Scotland & Wales,Jersey,Guernsey & Isle of Man to meet on a regular basis to discuss issues of concern to our citizens

 
Commencement Matter: 22 June 2016

I raised the following matter during commencement matter on 22 June 2016

"The need for the Minister for Health to give assurances to the people of Roscommon that the Primary Care Centre in Monksland will remain under the HSE West and not be moved under any circumstance to the control of HSE (Community Health Organisation CHO8) which serves counties Laois, Offaly, Longford, Westmeath, Louth and Meath and that he assures the people of Roscommon that this is not another attack on the integrity of the County of Roscommon"

Response from Minister of State Sean Canney TD (On behalf of Minister for Health, Simon Harris TD - See link below "No decision has been made to transfer the

Thank you for all the lovely messages and support I received on re-election to Seanad Eireann.

Photos to follow
Copy of the count results here: