HC Deb 17 March 2004 vol 419 c297W
Lady Hermon

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether citizenship ceremonies taking place in Northern Ireland will follow exactly the same format as in the rest of the United Kingdom. [161397]

Jane Kennedy

The Home Office has set out a basic format for a citizenship ceremony but they will vary from place to place throughout the United Kingdom, both to account for numbers of applicants and the incorporation of local features.

In Northern Ireland, the ceremonies will be held in Hillsborough Castle and will be conducted by a Lord Lieutenant. The format of the ceremonies in Northern Ireland will be an introduction and welcome speech by the Lord Lieutenant. The new citizens will then take an oath and pledge—the only parts of the ceremony which are mandatory throughout the UK. Following this, the Lord Lieutenant will present each of the applicants with their certificate of citizenship. There will then be a short congratulatory speech and the ceremony will end with the playing of the national anthem.