Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

No. This point was carefully considered at the time. Article 2 does not impose on the Protestant Unionist community of Northern Ireland citizenship of the Irish State. It gives them the birthright and entitlement to claim it if they so wish. It does not make anyone automatically a citizen but it does say that anyone born is the island of Ireland has an absolute entitlement to claim that citizenship. Therefore, what is in the section is not inconsistent with that. It is totally consistent with that state of affairs.