Under EU law, a member state can't impose a requirement on resident EU citizens that it doesn't impose on its own citizens. So it doesn't matter to EU residents if they make passports "compulsory" because EU citizens' passports will be issued by their own state and so they won't be on the National Identity Register.

The Republic of Ireland regards (nearly) all those born in Ireland, North or South, and their children as its citizens, and will grant citizenship to those with Irish-born grandparents. IIRC something like 10% of the population of the UK (including my missus) falls into those categories.

What's more, a large proportion of the population of Northern Ireland disagree with being part of the UK. I should imagine that a large proportion of them choose to only hold an Irish passport. How is the government going to make them get a "compulsory" British passport (i.e. who gets to tell Gerry Adams to get one)?

And not to mention that sadly once again we are seeing a terrorist threat from hard-line Northern Irish republicans, none of whom will be caught up in the NIR.

Remind me again what it's supposed to be for?

Can we have an icon of someone slapping their palm to their forehead please?