Brits urged to stop ordering Irish passports after flood of post EU vote applications
Irish government today urged those eligible to only apply if really necessary
BRITS have been asked to stop applying for Irish passports after the Brexit vote sparked an uncontrollable rise in demand.
Irish Foreign Affairs minister Charlie Flanagan urged those eligible for an Irish passport to only apply if it was necessary as the service is struggling to cope.
Last week, the Sun Online reported how the UK's decision to quit the European Union sparked a surge of applications from Brits worried about their future right to free movement.
Large queues formed outside Ireland's main passport office and post offices quickly ran out of application forms.
Mr Flanagan reminded British citizens they would have access to EU rights for the foreseeable future while the British government negotiated the formal exit from the union.
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"Following the UK referendum, there has been a spike in interest in Irish passports in Northern Ireland, Great Britain and elsewhere, although there has been some exaggeration of demand," he told the Times.
"The increased interest clearly points to a sense of concern among some UK passport holders that the rights they enjoy as EU citizens are about to abruptly end. I want to state clearly that this is not the case.
"The United Kingdom has voted to leave the European Union but it has not yet left. It will take some time for negotiations on a British exit to conclude."
He warned that the surge in demand for Irish passports could put pressure on the system and have an impact on those with a genuine need to travel.
Google trends data showed searches for "getting an Irish passport" in Britain on Friday more than doubled the usual rate.
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