CONOR McGinn MP has called on the British Government to guarantee the rights of Irish citizens in Britain and to protect the Good Friday Agreement after Brexit.
Mr McGinn is the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Ireland and the Irish in Britain.
Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday, Mr McGinn outlined his amendment calling for the status, rights and privileges enjoyed by the Irish community in Britain to be maintained.
He also proposed a motion calling on the Government to uphold the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement, including on human rights and equality, the Irish language and the development of all-Ireland and British-Irish links.
Mr McGinn said: “Irish migration to Britain has been a feature of the relationship between our two countries for many centuries.
"Irish citizens enjoyed rights, entitlements and privileges here before the UK and Ireland simultaneously joined the EU.
"I have been contacted by many Irish people living in Britain who are worried about what the UK’s withdrawal from the EU means for them.
"I’ve therefore raised this issue in Parliament to seek assurances from the Government that although Irish citizens will still be EU citizens after the UK leaves the EU, the rights, status and entitlements that they have enjoyed through legislation and through custom and practice over many decades will be maintained.
“I also hope that the Government will commit to ensuring that the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement will remain in place when the UK leaves the European Union, and to upholding them in both letter and spirit.
"The free movement of goods, services and most importantly people on the island of Ireland is at the heart of the peace process and the progress made over the last 20 years.
"There should be no return to a border of any kind.
"Just like I will respect the result of the EU referendum held last year, I urge the Government to respect the result of the referendum held in both parts of Ireland in 1998 which endorsed the Good Friday Agreement.
"The wishes and will of the people of Northern Ireland and the island of Ireland as a whole must be recognised and respected, and I will continue to hold the Government to account on these important issues.”
Mr McGinn’s amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill received the support of 30 MPs, including former Shadow Northern Ireland Secretaries Vernon Coaker and Ivan Lewis and three SDLP MPs, Mark Durkan, Dr Alasdair McDonnell and Ms Margaret Ritchie.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also backed Mr McGinn's amendments to the Bill.
Conor McGinn amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill:
NC108: Status of Irish citizens in the United Kingdom:
Before exercising the power under section 1, the Prime Minister shall commit to maintaining the current status, rights and entitlements of Irish citizens in the United Kingdom, inclusive of and in addition to their status, rights and entitlements as EU citizens.
NC109: Provisions of the Good Friday Agreement:
Before exercising the power under section 1, the Prime Minister shall commit to maintaining the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent Agreements agreed between the United Kingdom and Ireland since 1998, including-
(a) the free movement of people, goods and services on the island of Ireland;
(b) citizenship rights;
(c) the preservation of institutions set up relating to strands 2 and 3 of the Good Friday Agreement;
(d) human rights and equality;
(e) the principle of consent; and
(f) the status of the Irish language.
