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Charles Tannock described the Conservative Party as "a difficult place to be" as a pro-European PA Archive/PA Images

'Ireland has been a godsend to me': Tory MEP on why he took out an Irish passport

Conservative Party MEP Charles Tannock has been vocal in his criticism of Brexit.

A BRITISH CONSERVATIVE MEP who has secured an Irish passport in the wake of the Brexit referendum has described Ireland as a “godsend” for allowing him to remain an EU citizen even after the UK leaves the union.

Charles Tannock, a Conservative Party MEP for London, said today that he is “very grateful to Ireland” after being granted a passport by virtue of his grandmother, who was born in Dublin in 1895.

“I can still be European, and it enables me to enjoy the rights which unfortunately are going to be denied to many millions of Brits who voted to remain in the European Union to live, work and study throughout 27 countries, including the Republic of Ireland.”

The MEP was speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Sean O’Rourke, where he admitted he would not have pursued an Irish passport had Britain not left the EU – partly because the process was “lengthy” but also because “if Britain had stayed in the European Union I would still be proud of my Irish heritage but I wouldn’t have needed the passport to prove it”.

I will do everything to support Ireland in the future.

Belgium Europe Brexit EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, meets with Ireland's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney Virginia Mayo Virginia Mayo

Tannock has been vocal against Brexit, and described being a member of the Conservative Party as a result as “a difficult place to be”.

Tannock also justified remaining a member of the party, which has been criticised for its hard-line approach to Brexit talks.

“I think if people like me leave then the Tory party would be devoid of all the moderates who are pro-European who want to bring a balance to the debate within the party.”

While he has considered leaving, and has been approached by other parties, Tannock insists that he will stay a member: “I do feel there is a need for moderate pro-European conservatives.”

Tannock was critical of the government’s approach to Brexit, stating that a softer Brexit, that would see the UK remain part of the customs unions, would solve many of the problems their exit is causing.

I think the hard Brexit policy of the British government was so unnecessary. The British government could have gone for the softest option, to stay in the single market, in the customs union, there would be none of the problems with the Northern Irish border which I warned about during the referendum campaign.

“We may be heading to a train crash of no deal whatsoever.”

On Northern Ireland, he said he did not believe Theresa May’s proposals for a “frictionless” border, which would rely on technology, would be successful. Introducing such a system, he said, would be “very difficult” and was likely to become a “recipe for smuggling”.

The Department of Foreign Affairs’ website clarifies who is entitled to an Irish passport, and includes an FAQ section for people born in Britain. It explains:

If you were born outside the island of Ireland and if either of your parents was an Irish citizen who was born in the island of Ireland, then you are entitled to Irish citizenship, and entitled to apply for an Irish passport under Irish law, irrespective of where you reside. You can also apply for Irish citizenship if one of your parents, while not born in the island of Ireland, was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth. In most cases applications of this type are made through a grandparent who was born in Ireland.

The demand for Irish passports has risen dramatically in the wake of the Brexit referendum, with over 65,000 applications waiting to be processed in June of this year.

Read: Dara Ó Briain called out BBC News for this map that appeared to put Ireland outside the EU >

Read: UK’s negotiator accuses EU of being ‘silly’ and ‘frightened’ in Brexit talks >

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51 Comments
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    Mute B9xiRspG
    Favourite B9xiRspG
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    Sep 5th 2017, 1:30 PM

    Grandmother – 1895? Seriously, I think my great great great great great great granddad was a viking, can I have a passport from Denmark?

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    Mute Tom Tom
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    Sep 5th 2017, 1:32 PM

    @B9xiRspG: Yes but she would likely still have been alive into the eighties and probably living in Ireland. She would also have been entitled to British citizenship should she have wanted it due to being born into the Commonwealth.

    94
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    Mute Darren Bates
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    Sep 5th 2017, 1:34 PM

    @B9xiRspG: in fairness, he’s an older man. There’s about as much between him and his grandmother as there is between me and mine. Not unusual.

    I’m glad he’s rediscovering his Irishness. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him seek a Dáil seat one day.

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    Mute Danny foley
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    Sep 5th 2017, 1:36 PM

    @Darren Bates: Just another MEP addicted to the EU gravy train. Wecome to Ireland, welcome to the rabid EU asylum.

    61
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    Mute P.J. Nolan
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    Sep 5th 2017, 1:43 PM

    @Darren Bates:
    For SF?

    6
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    Mute Danny foley
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    Sep 5th 2017, 1:47 PM

    @P.J. Nolan: I thin that soon to be ex MEP represented Royston Vasey……..

    12
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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Sep 5th 2017, 1:48 PM

    @Danny foley: don’t be silly. He’ll no longer be an MEP

    17
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    Mute billy Dorney
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    Sep 5th 2017, 2:04 PM

    @Darren Bates: couldn’t be worse than our current boyos

    11
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    Mute Pat Troy
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    Sep 5th 2017, 2:36 PM

    @B9xiRspG: guess he will be running for FG in the next election.

    13
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    Mute Ronan McDermott
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    Sep 5th 2017, 2:44 PM

    No you clown. It goes back two generations. Everybody with a grandparent born here is entitled. It’s the same with most countries. Doesn’t matter how long ago . Stop being a lil drama queen

    33
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    Mute TheGrannies
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    Sep 5th 2017, 6:37 PM

    @B9xiRspG: wow, vikings in c1700, who knew.

    6
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    Mute Ken Loughman
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    Sep 5th 2017, 7:11 PM

    @Danny foley: Give it a rest, will you?

    1
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    Mute Larry Doyle
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    Sep 5th 2017, 1:39 PM

    He seems to be a thoughtful and conscientious politician so he probably has no future in the conservative party.

    156
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    Mute Gerard Heery
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    Sep 5th 2017, 1:41 PM

    On!y Irish when it suits,,neverd suffered reading peig sayers,,never had to pay the Draconian taxes here.never had to drive in all the potholes ,never being fleeced by the insurance companies,never even hit a slitter etc

    98
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    Mute Darren Bates
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    Sep 5th 2017, 1:44 PM

    @Gerard Heery: you mean a sliotar? I can see why you hated reading Péig.

    161
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    Mute Gerard Heery
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    Sep 6th 2017, 7:40 AM

    @Darren Bates: had a Christian brother for Irish and religion who was very fond of the leather six of the best for a spelling mistake in Irish to the poor chap next to me with dyslexia,ruled the class with pure terror, never battered anyone during religion ,waited for Irish class for assaults to begin .oh the nightmares of his class.and the leather out for peig sayers to make an example of someone I. the class.

    2
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    Mute Eilís Ní Laighléis
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    Sep 5th 2017, 1:37 PM

    Wonder if he needed a public services card?

    84
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    Mute P.J. Nolan
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    Sep 5th 2017, 1:45 PM

    @Eilís Ní Laighléis:
    No.

    13
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    Mute Clare Quinn
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    Sep 5th 2017, 1:59 PM

    I would be very much interested in reading a follow up story this time next year to see how many times our prodigal grandson has visited this fair land in his passionate rediscovery of his roots versus how many times his new harp emblazoned passport was scanned in the EU fast-track queue at Brussels Airport Passport Security. I don’t mind people coming back to the old sod to trace their roots but come on, gimme a break, two years ago he was probably embarrassed to have Fenian blood in his ancestry. Or am I just a cynical cow?

    75
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    Mute Boganity
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    Sep 5th 2017, 2:08 PM

    @Clare Quinn: read the article, he was honest about why he wanted it, to retain his rights as an EU citizen

    60
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    Mute Dáithí Ó Raghallaigh
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    Sep 5th 2017, 1:33 PM

    Definition of Brexit— self harm.

    I lived in the UK and some of my mates still live there. The post on facebook “Keep Britian for the British” irony= there immigrants from Ireland, never took out British citizenship and happy to use an Irish EU passport. Its racism under a different name..

    60
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    Mute Danny foley
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    Sep 5th 2017, 1:45 PM

    @Dáithí Ó Raghallaigh: How are they dealing with the out of control anti immigrant sentiment we all here about from the media? Did you get out just before the round up happened?

    14
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    Mute Johnny Gunn
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    Sep 5th 2017, 1:54 PM

    @Dáithí Ó Raghallaigh: oh the poor downtrodden Irish always the victims :(

    17
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    Mute Simon
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    Sep 5th 2017, 2:55 PM

    We’re not whinging about granny rule citizenship when we’re robbing their footballers

    42
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    Mute Just Some Guy
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    Sep 5th 2017, 3:01 PM

    @Simon:

    Most of the English born players who played for Ireland weren’t good enough for England.

    22
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    Mute Damocles
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    Sep 5th 2017, 1:49 PM

    Irish Tories? Is there no screening process? “Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Conservative Party?”

    33
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    Mute thomas walsh
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    Sep 5th 2017, 3:14 PM

    @Damocles: well, we did come up with it…

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tory

    11
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    Mute Carol McNamee
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    Sep 5th 2017, 6:30 PM

    @Damocles: I laughed!

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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Sep 5th 2017, 3:12 PM

    Personally I think all politicians should ‘nail their colours to the mast’ where nationality is concerned stating their true nationality. The Irish government should withdraw the passport because it is obvious Tannock having pledged an oath to the crown cannot represent Ireland and could even use his dual nationality to undermine the Irish state in favour of the UK Brexit argument.

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    Mute Just Some Guy
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    Sep 5th 2017, 2:59 PM

    With all the British applying for Irish passports. The Irish Government should increase the fee for them

    22
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    Mute bingo
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    Sep 5th 2017, 1:33 PM

    122 year ago! This is ridiculous – change the law!

    43
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    Mute Darren Bates
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    Sep 5th 2017, 1:43 PM

    @bingo: you’re not getting it. Charles Tannock is 59. I’ll be 27 later this month and around the same time my grandmother will be 80. When I’m his age my grandmother would’ve been born 112 years ago. Imagine people losing out on their citizenship just because you’re shocked at people’s ages.

    122
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    Mute bingo
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    Sep 5th 2017, 2:26 PM

    @Darren Bates: No, You’re not getting it. Charles Tannock has never lived in this country should not get Irish citizenship based on a granny born here in 1895. If he actually lived here that would be different but he doesn’t.

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    Mute Darren Bates
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    Sep 5th 2017, 3:13 PM

    @bingo: by that logic Cascarino would’ve never played for Ireland. Stop being a Trumpy.

    35
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    Mute Fiona deFreyne
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    Sep 5th 2017, 2:53 PM

    Goodbye Great Britain.

    Hello Little England.

    16
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    Mute Danny Flynn
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    Sep 5th 2017, 2:07 PM

    Nothing to do with him being an m e p who will be out of a job soon

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    Mute Boganity
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    Sep 5th 2017, 2:10 PM

    @Danny Flynn: I can’t see any possible connection maybe you can enlighten us ?

    12
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    Mute Fiona deFreyne
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    Sep 5th 2017, 2:52 PM

    Charles Tannock is just one of very many. There has been a massive increase in applications from abroad for Irish/EU Passports.

    Some of those “foreigners” from Britain are nice people but soon they will be “Johnnie Foreigner” in Ireland and the rest of Europe.

    The rise of national chauvinism and opposition to internationalism is well in progress.

    12
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    Mute Shaner Mac
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    Sep 5th 2017, 4:57 PM

    I’m all for allowing our diaspora to claim citizenship, but there needs to be stricter criteria. If your grandparents are Irish, you could only qualify if you came to live here for at least a year.

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    Mute Eric Davies
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    Sep 7th 2017, 10:22 AM

    @Shaner Mac: i have lived in ireland for the last 20 yrs – came here to open a business and have worked here ,paid my taxs etc since arriving – i was born and raised in liverpool , my great grand parents on my fathers side came from kilucan in co meath – i never had a uk passport and dont want one- (didnt need one as i used my driving licence on the ferry), i cant get an irish passport unless i take a ‘citizenship’ which will cost me over 1500 euro – money i dont have and cant afford as i am on disability – you used to be able to apply for citizenship/ passport once youd lived here for more than 5 years – and the charge was nominal – now unless you have money -you cant – its a very unfair system -based on someones ability to pay rather than what they have contributed to the state – typical of fg and ff though -money is all that matters to them .

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    Mute Laurence Cavanagh
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    Sep 5th 2017, 1:46 PM

    Good for you mate.But you need to come over from the dark side to make your journey complete.

    12
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    Mute Clare Quinn
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    Sep 5th 2017, 2:12 PM

    Yes and I commend his honesty but how many times will he show his gratitude by paying us a visit? Genuinely curious.

    10
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    Mute Boganity
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    Sep 5th 2017, 2:24 PM

    @Clare Quinn: most Irish passports are issued to people outside Ireland and I imagine some of them have never set foot in Ireland either.

    19
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    Mute Eric Davies
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    Sep 7th 2017, 10:25 AM

    @Boganity: there are chinese , arabs and asians with ‘irish citizenship’ and passports these days who have no connection to the country what-so -ever – all they have is the financial ability to pay over 1500 euro to buy a citizenship ! the eu passport is all these people want – they will probably NEVER set foot in ireland again.

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    Mute Zossima
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    Sep 5th 2017, 2:34 PM

    Coveney with his ” I hope they think I know what I’m up to face “

    11
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    Mute Patrick j Brady
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    Sep 5th 2017, 4:47 PM

    This guy should not have been let get a passport.the loophole should have been closed years ago..

    11
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    Mute Paul Flood
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    Sep 5th 2017, 3:11 PM

    Sure there’s lads in the Irish squad with more distant relatives than that!

    Embarrassing when they don’t know a word of the national though.

    9
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    Mute Darren Bates
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    Sep 5th 2017, 3:15 PM

    @Paul Flood: more embarrassing when they’re not even Irish citizens and belt out the anthem like those rugby feckers who only qualify through residency.

    5
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    Mute Dáithí Ó Raghallaigh
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    Sep 5th 2017, 2:04 PM

    Definition of Brexit— self harm.

    I lived in the UK and some of my mates still live there. Their Irish and post on their facebook pages “Keep Britian for the British” irony = there immigrants from Ireland, never took out British citizenship and happy to use an Irish EU passport. Its racism under a different name..

    6
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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Sep 5th 2017, 3:17 PM

    @Dáithí Ó Raghallaigh: There are plenty of families of Irish origin living in Britain who prefer to remain Irish, they are not being racist in doing so.

    13
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    Mute nick mullen
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    Sep 10th 2017, 1:04 AM

    Charles Tannock come and live & work here in multicultural R. O. I.

    1
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