IRELAND BILL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27096, 2 June 1949, Page 7

IRELAND BILL

PASSED BY HOUSE OF LORDS NEW CLAUSE ADDED NZPA—Copyright LONDON, May 31. The House of Lords to-day passed the Ireland Bill recognising Eire’s departure from the Commonwealth, and providing for Eire citizens not being regarded as foreigners It also declared that Northern Ireland shall remain part of the King’s dominions unless its parliament decides otherwise. The Bill had already passed through the House of Commons. The Opposition and the Government agreed on a new clause affecting the British nationality of certain Irish-born people. It provides that a person born before December 6, 1922—when the Irish Free State was established—in that part of Ireland now forming the Republic, and who was a British subject immediately before the date of the commencement of last year’s British Nationality* Act. shall not be deemed to have ceased to be a British subject on the coming into force of that Act. Three exceptions are: A person domiciled in Southern Ireland on December .6, 1922; a person permanently resident there between April 10, 1935 the date of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act —and commencement of the British Nationality Act; or a person registered as a citizen of Ireland before thq. commencement of the British Nationality Act.