Irish citizens born in County Derry to have the right to choose to have English language name of their place of birth entered in their passport as either Derry or Londonderry

An Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha Preas Ráiteas

Tel: 353 -1- 478 0822 Fax: 353 -1- 478 5942 / 475 7476

Idirlíon/Internet: www.dfa.ie Ríomh Phost/E-mail: press.office@dfa.ie

Irish citizens born in County Derry to have the right to choose to have English language name of their place of birth entered in their passport as either Derry or Londonderry

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D., today announced that Irish citizens born in County Derry will henceforth be able to choose to have English language name of their place of birth entered in their passport as either Derry or Londonderry. The Irish language name of the county will continue to be entered as "Doire", regardless of the English version.

The Minister said:

"The Department of Foreign Affairs currently issues around 60,000 passports per year to people living in Northern Ireland. A number of these applicants, as well as some living outside Northern Ireland, list their county of birth as Londonderry. I have received representations asking that Londonderry be recorded in their passport as their place of birth.

In considering this request, I have taken into account the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, endorsed by the people of Ireland – North and South - which recognises "the birthright of all the people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish or British, or both, as they may so choose, and accordingly confirm that their right to hold both British and Irish citizenship is accepted by both Governments and would not be affected by any future change in the status of Northern Ireland".

I believe that for this birthright to be fulfilled, people of both traditions in Northern Ireland must be able to express their culture, language, and tradition in a climate of tolerance and mutual respect, free from discrimination or harassment.

This coming Good Friday is, by coincidence, the eleventh anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Acting in the spirit of this Agreement, which has helped transform relations on this island, I have decided that qualified citizens will have the right to decide whether the English language version of their place of birth should be recorded in their passport as Derry or Londonderry. The Irish language name of the county will continue to be entered as "Doire", regardless of the English version.

This decision carries no implications as regards the official or legal title of any political or geographic entity. It is simply an attempt to accommodate the different traditions on this island. I understand that persons applying for British passports are similarly able to choose between recording Derry and Londonderry as their place of birth."

The Minister concluded by stressing that:

"Only through the practice of tolerance and mutual respect will we nourish and sustain relationships on this island, secure a peaceful and prosperous future for our children and deliver on the unbounded potential of the Good Friday and St. Andrews Agreements."

Ends+++

8 April 2009

Press Office