§ 3.16 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT MASSEREENE AND FERRARDMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there are any restrictions which prevent citizens of the Irish Republic from sitting in either House of Parliament.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD WINDLESHAM)My Lords, the disqualifications for membership of either House of Parliament which apply to citizens of the Republic of Ireland are the same as those which apply to citizens of independent Commonwealth countries. They are summarised in Chapter III of the eighteenth edition of Erskine May's Parliamentary Practice.
§ VISCOUNT MASSEREENE AND FERRARDMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that Answer, may I ask whether he would not agree that it is an absurd anomaly that the holder of an Irish Peerage who is a resident of the United Kingdom and a citizen of the United Kingdom cannot sit in the Upper House of Parliament, whereas an individual who is a citizen of Eire and is not a citizen of the United Kingdom or the Commonwealth can in fact sit in the Upper House of Parliament? Further, may I ask my noble friend this question? If in fact, as I understand it, aliens can sit in Parliament, would it not be wise for Her Majesty's Government to institute some machinery to ensure that they adhere to their Oath of Allegiance?
§ LORD WINDLESHAMMy Lords, as I said in the original Answer, the position of citizens of the Republic of Ireland is exactly the same in this respect as that of citizens of any independent Commonwealth country. I think your Lordships will agree that a number of noble Lords who have been citizens of independent Commonwealth countries have made a considerable contribution to the proceedings of your Lordships' House, although they may not have held citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies.
§ VISCOUNT MASSEREENE AND FERRARDMy Lords, would my noble friend still not agree that it is an absurd anomaly that a resident of the United Kingdom and a citizen of the United Kingdom cannot sit in the Upper House of Parliament, whereas a citizen of Eire can?
§ LORD WINDLESHAMMy Lords, the position is that under the Ireland Act 1949 the Republic of Ireland is not a member of the Commonwealth but its citizens are treated in our law as though it were.