Nine Irish in NI apply to be British

NINE people born in the Republic of Ireland but living in Northern Ireland applied to naturalise as British over the past five years.

The information was revealed by Home Office Minister of State Damian Green in response to a query from DUP MP Gregory Campbell.

The East Londonderry MP asked the Minister how many people with a birthplace in the Republic of Ireland who applied for a UK Certificate of Naturalisation in the last five years gave a current address in Northern Ireland.

Mr Green revealed two people applied in 2006; five people applied in 2007; none applied in 2008; two people applied in 2009; and none applied in 2010.

Mr Green said the information was taken from local management information provided by UK Border Agency, North West Region Planning and MI Team.

He said it was not a National Statistic and as such it should be treated as provisional and therefore subject to change.