Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

One of the things I have found interesting about the debate outside the House, in the media, is the view taken by two different figures in the pro-life movement. On the one hand, Justin Barrett supports the referendum while, on the other, William Binchy opposes it. I am on the side of William Binchy on this matter. He is a man of humanitarian views who has many things in common with Labour Party policy, with the exception of one issue, and is always consistent in what he has to say. I find Justin Barrett's position totally inconsistent, which is not unusual for him. The issue William Binchy raised is how the constitutional amendment, if adopted, will treat children differently. Children of foreign parents born in Ireland prior to the referendum will have Irish citizenship, but children born after the referendum may not have the same right to citizenship. If their parents are here for a short time, they will not get citizenship and if their parents are here for a long time, they may get citizenship. They may have siblings born prior to the referendum who have Irish citizenship while those born after the referendum may not have Irish citizenship. Under the Constitution, everyone is supposed to be treated equally. However, people will now look at children differently, even though their circumstances are virtually the same, which is very worrying.

The other issue which has not been mentioned, and I am worried about the viewpoint of Justin Barrett in this regard, is the fact that our Constitution protects the unborn. Are we saying that we will protect the unborn, who has rights under our Constitution, but when born, he or she will have a totally different status? This would be an extraordinary outcome.

Reference has been made to statistics and people disagree as to their significance. All Irish emigrants were economic emigrants. My parents were emigrants to the UK in the 1960s. I was born in the UK. My parents returned here but I have always been very proud of the fact that I was born in the UK. I look on it as something that is part of me. I am an Irish citizen and hold an Irish passport. It is something unique to me compared to someone who was not born in the UK but is an Irish citizen. I have both backgrounds to my life. I often wondered whether I would obtain a British passport, which I have not done. I always felt I had that choice. Many immigrants to this country have the same intentions as Irish emigrants who left Ireland, which is to return to their country of origin. Senator Ryan pointed out that many immigrants are of childbearing age. That is what happened to my parents. Most Irish emigrants would have been in the same position. For example, if one was born in America, one would have American citizenship rights. These people contributed to the country to which they emigrated and when they returned they contributed to this country. Irish people who choose to remain in other countries contribute hugely to the reputation of Irish people abroad. They contribute to these countries both economically, politically, culturally and so on. That is how immigrants to this country will contribute if we allow them to do so and adopt a positive immigration system.

I am aware of someone who worked in Microsoft on a work permit. This person had a child while working here. That person subsequently went to the United States and will eventually return to Turkey.

The child was born here and I met him when he was three years old. If he was asked where he was from, he would reply he was from Ireland. His parents will return to Turkey and he will probably spend the rest of his life in Turkey, but he is proud to be Irish in the way that I am proud of the fact that I was born in the UK.

Whatever the intentions behind the referendum, I believe it will lead to very simplified views as to why immigrants come here. This is borne out on radio programmes and in exchanges when one calls to people's doors. People have the idea that immigrants come here to abuse the system, but the reality is that most do not. Many would work but cannot because of the system. I know a Nigerian solicitor who has been here two years but cannot work. He would contribute to the system if he could. He would hope to return to Nigeria and contribute there.