Irish government urges Britons to stop applying for passports

Britons have been flocking in their thousands to apply for Irish passports after last Thursday's referendum in which a majority of British citizens voted to leave the European Union.

The Irish embassy and post offices in Northern Ireland have received a high volume of enquiries since the result of the vote became known. 4,000 enquiries were made on Monday, compared to the 200 it usually receives daily.

4,000 enquiries were made on Monday, compared to the 200 it usually receives daily.

Anyone born in the Irish Republic, Northern Ireland or with an Irish parent or grandparent, is eligible for an Irish passport – some six million people living in the UK.

The Irish minister for foreign affairs Charlie Flanagan appealed for calm in order to alleviate the pressure building on the consular offices.

“An unnecessary surge in applications for Irish passports will place significant pressure on the system and on turnaround 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.”

Over 500,00 people from the north hold Irish passports.

An MP for Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, who are normally opposed to relations with the south of the island, said that those in the region should avail of the second passport.

“My advice is if you are entitled to a second passport then take one," said Ian Paisley Jr.

Ireland issued around 670,000 passports last year, and over 500,00 people from the north hold Irish passports.