Louth councillor welcomes scrapping of "ridiculous Brit Card" system

Sinn Féin councillor for Dundalk Antóin Watters has welcomed the decision of the British Government to scrap so-called "Brit Cards", a digital identity system set to be introduced for working people in the UK by 2029. 

Cllr Watters said there had been no consideration given to a sizable number of workers who live in the South and work in the North, particularly those who live in North Louth. 

It was announced this week that Digital IDs will no longer be required for the right to work, but the British Government have said it remains committed to having mandatory checks but said people will be able to use digital chips in their passports instead. 

According to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer the scheme would be introduced as a way to "curb the prospect of work for illegal immigrants". 

"Digital ID is an enormous opportunity for the UK. It will make it tougher to work illegally in this country, making our borders more secure," he said. 

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Cllr Watters said although "common sense has prevailed I should point out that the Labour Party did not do a U-turn on this policy because of the chaos and havoc it would wreak on Ireland, it was because of
widespread opposition in his own country". 

He said when he'd previously raised concerns about the scheme it was "obvious that no consideration was given to Ireland or to the Good Friday Agreement where identity forms an important basis.”

"There was no consideration given to the implication the scheme would have on the common travel area or the tenets of the Good Friday Agreement,” he said. 

The Sinn Féin councillor said he is pleased that Ireland will not be "collateral damage" as a result of the scheme. 

The sooner we have this country re-united the better. The British Government have only ever treated us with disdain. Ireland and its people deserve so much better than that.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme