HC Deb 26 April 1939 vol 346 cc1145-7
68. Sir Ronald Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether the government of Eire recognises its citizens as being British citizens, or claims that they belong to some distinguishable category; and, if the latter, whether the citizens of Eire are entitled to all the rights and privileges of British citizenship?

formation is available, falling to be met out of rates and the block grants under the Local Government Act, 1929, and (6) the percentage which that expenditure bore to the corresponding revenue expenditure for the same year on all rate fund services. Since 1st April, 1930, it has not been possible to state to what extent the cost of any particular service has fallen on rates, as the block grants are applicable to local government expenses generally and cannot be apportioned to individual services.

The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs (Sir Thomas Inskip)

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the terms of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act of 1935. As regards the latter part, the view of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, which has been explained on previous occasions, is that citizenship of Eire does not deprive any person of his status as a British subject under United Kingdom law.

Sir R. Ross

Are not His Majesty's Government extremely unfair to the Government of Eire, in that, while they have rejected British citizenship, the British Government refuse to implement their decision and to take the logical steps which would ensue from that decision?