There is no objection in principle "to allowing qualification for naturalisation on the basis of a sufficient knowledge of Cornish, Irish or Manx" according to the Home Office Border & Immigration Agency.

The agency were responding to a query sent to Home Office Minister, Liam Byrne MP, in April by Celtic League Secretary General, Rhisiart Tal-e-bot, which asked why United Kingdom citizenship tests, which were introduced in November 2005, could be undertaken Welsh and Scottish Gaelic, but it is not possible to undertake these tests in the Cornish, Irish or Manx languages?

The Agency say:

"Thank you for your email of 24 April about the non-recognition of Cornish, Irish and Manx for the purposes of naturalisation as a British citizen.

English, Welsh and Scottish Gaelic have been the languages recognised for naturalisation purposes for more than 20 years. Until recently, the absence of Cornish, Irish and Manx had been little remarked upon and successive governments have seen no need to add any languages to the three original ones.

The present Government is not, in principle, opposed to allowing qualification for naturalisation on the basis of a sufficient knowledge of Cornish, Irish or Manx or, indeed, of any other regional or minority languages recognised as such by the United Kingdom for the purposes of the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages. However, this would require primary legislation and it may be some time before a suitable opportunity arises to take this forward.

I trust this information is sufficient for your needs.

Yours sincerely

Mrs G McGowan NGE, Border & Immigration Agency"

See also Celtic News:

No. 2188 'LITTLE ENGLAND' MENTALITY UNDERLIES CITIZENSHIP TESTS Apr 23, 2007 No. 2186 MANX HOME AFFAIRS DEPT. TESTED ON CITIZENSHIP ISSUE Apr 23, 2007

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

19/05/07

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