§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the implications of the European Communities (Employment in Civil Service) Order 1991 for a person born and resident in Northern Ireland but holding a passport issued by the Republic of Ireland in respect of employment in the Northern Ireland civil service; and if he will list all the posts and departmental agencies to which the order applies. [22925]
§ Sir John WheelerPersons born and resident in Northern Ireland, but holding a passport issued by the Republic of Ireland, provided they still hold British nationality, are eligible for employment in any post in the Northern Ireland civil service in the same way as any other British national. Those who surrender British nationality in favour of Irish citizenship come within the ambit of the European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 1991 and are eligible, with nationals of other EC-now EEA since the European Economic Area Act 1993-member states and certain members of their families, for appointment to approximately 24,500 posts in the Northern Ireland civil service, or 75 per cent. which do not constitute "employment in the public service" in EC treaty terms. The posts in question are spread across all Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office and their agencies and could be listed only at disproportionate cost.