John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to address the House on this important and straightforward issue. I respect the opinions of the Deputies on the other side of the House, but any Deputy who says this is a ruse to influence the electorate is way off the mark. Deputies should stop insulting the intelligence of the electorate. To say that people from a Labour Party or Fine Gael background will vote Fianna Fáil because of this referendum is to insult their intelligence. People have political affiliations. Just because the referendum will be held on the same day as the local and European elections does not mean people will be encouraged to change their vote to Fianna Fáil.

As someone who comes from the constituency of Wexford where a significant number of asylum seekers have come through the port of Rosslare and set up home, I am aware of the circumstances in which many immigrants find themselves. The majority of politicians in Wexford have behaved in a sincere way towards people who have found themselves without friends, family or support. There have been one or two outbreaks of racism but, on the whole, there has been little bad feeling towards asylum seekers and those who come to live in County Wexford.

There are approximately 400 to 500 Romanians, Nigerians, Algerians and others living in Wexford town. In Enniscorthy there are over 100 Nigerian families. I am of the view that people may live for four to five years in a constituency but still not feel at home there. Those to whom I refer have few rights. The legislation will change the position and give them the opportunity to become Irish citizens. Many of these people have children and have been living in my constituency for longer than three years.

The matter we are debating today is probably one of the most clear and defined to have been put to the electorate in a long period. Much political gain has been sought in recent days in implying that this issue has been rushed forward. However, it is a matter of public record that this proposal was put forward as part of the programme for Government almost two years ago. How long should we continue to debate the issue without taking action? There has been adequate debate and what is needed now is to allow the people to have their say in a referendum.

When enacted, the Bill will provide that in cases where a child is born to non-national parents, at least one of them will have to have been resident in Ireland for three or four years prior to the child's birth before the child can become entitled to Irish citizenship. This is in line with the citizenship requirements for any non-national marrying an Irish national to obtain citizenship. As public representatives, we have all regularly come into contact with Irishmen or women who have married people from other countries and whose spouses wanted to become citizens of this country. These individuals must undergo a particular procedure overseen by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. It is sometimes four or five years before they become Irish citizens. The legislation is very much in line with the existing system.

The Bill brings Ireland into line with the rest of Europe. It is as simple as that. Ireland is unique at present in respect of the fact that citizenship can be obtained by virtue of being born here. In the majority of other EU countries, citizenship is obtained through being descended from an existing citizen. The leader of the Labour Party earlier made a number of assertions. In particular, he made reference to Government candidates in the forthcoming local elections making political gain from this matter or including racist material in their election literature. I wish to point out to Deputy Rabbitte that, as far as I am concerned, I am sure it is the same for the majority of Deputies, the literature distributed by candidates for the forthcoming elections contains no reference to this matter. I have been out canvassing with councillors from my party in recent weeks and I have not seen any reference to the referendum in their literature. Perhaps reference has been made to it in some parts of the country——

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