Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

In so far as this new law permits the Oireachtas to determine the circumstances in which people born north and south of the Border shall obtain Irish citizenship, it would be unconstitutional to avail of this referendum to distinguish between the people of Northern Ireland, as defined in the British-Irish Agreement, and the people of the South with regard to their entitlement. The clear meaning of the Agreement is that they are entitled as of birthright to Irish citizenship. It should be clearly understood that this does not open the way to a second-class status for people born in Northern Ireland who are the children of Irish citizens or UK citizens or long-term residents. They will not be put into a second-class status as regards their entitlement to access Irish citizenship if that is their desire.