Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

What more suitable day exists than one which ensures maximum participation in the democratic process of voting — the date of an election? The choice of 11 June is thus both reasonable and fair.

Our decision to hold this referendum occurred against a background of looking at other possible solutions and for some time we have examined potential legislative solutions but none of those was compatible with the Constitution. We also sought to clarify the law before the Supreme Court in the L and O case and anticipated that this might have mitigated the problem, but this turned out not to be the case. A different problem developed with non-nationals coming to Ireland for the purposes of the birth of a child and the acquisition of citizenship and then leaving the country. This is not a phenomenon we are obliged to tolerate any longer. While immigration was a known fact at the time of the conclusion of the British-Irish Agreement, the substance and degree of the abuse of our Constitution requires us now to act to resolve this situation. After proper reflection on our position the clear and only option open to us was to propose an amendment to the Constitution, and this we have now done.

The origin of the problem is constitutional in nature and hence a referendum is an essential and unavoidable part of that solution. Delay in holding the referendum would merely extend the opportunity for further abuse of our laws on citizenship and that is not acceptable. There can be no greater illustration of our democracy than to consult the Irish people and that is the inherently democratic exercise in which we are now engaged. How can anyone fear expression of the will of the Irish people?

Finally, the allegation that this is a racist referendum is deeply offensive and a slur on the Irish people. It is an insult to the intelligence of our electorate and it is the ultimate act of cynicism. I can think of nothing more cynical than to oppose this referendum, knowing there is a problem to be solved. Those who have predicted a racist dimension to the referendum should now reflect on the wisdom of their allegations and address the proposed change on its merits and not on the basis of soundbites and slurs. In everyone's interest they ought to avoid creating a self-fulfilling prophecy by their language. It is not the Government but others who have brought the issue of race into this debate. We have proposed new citizenship laws which will continue to grant citizenship regardless of race. The race card should not be played by either side.

I commend this proposed referendum to the House and to the people.

See this speech in context