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Irish Londonderry passport change Irish Londonderry passport change
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The Irish government has changed rules on passports to allow people from NI applying for Irish passports to list their place of birth as Londonderry.The Irish government has changed rules on passports to allow people from NI applying for Irish passports to list their place of birth as Londonderry.
Previously, they would have to have used the name Derry.Previously, they would have to have used the name Derry.
Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said the gesture was timed to coincide with the 11th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said the gesture was timed to coincide with the 11th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
He said that enshrined the right of NI residents to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish or British, or both.He said that enshrined the right of NI residents to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish or British, or both.
"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," Mr Martin said."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," Mr Martin said.
"This decision carries no implications as regards the official or legal title of any political entity.
"It is simply an attempt to accommodate the different traditions on this island."
The decision was welcomed by East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell.The decision was welcomed by East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell.
"The fact that the government of the Irish Republic has abandoned the exclusionist nationalist agenda of forcing people to list their address as 'Derry', when they apply for a passport is indicative of new political realities," Mr Campbell said."The fact that the government of the Irish Republic has abandoned the exclusionist nationalist agenda of forcing people to list their address as 'Derry', when they apply for a passport is indicative of new political realities," Mr Campbell said.
"I have been active on the issue of passports for several years and I pay tribute to the persistence of a constituent who insisted over a number of years with my assistance in having this injustice rectified.""I have been active on the issue of passports for several years and I pay tribute to the persistence of a constituent who insisted over a number of years with my assistance in having this injustice rectified."
The Irish language name of the city or county will continued to be entered as Doire on passports, regardless of which English version is chosen.
More than 400,000 people in Northern Ireland have claimed Irish passports since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.
Applications for the passports can be made in 70 post offices across Northern Ireland.