Commission 'concerned' over citizenship referendum

The Green Party and Sinn Fein have welcomed a statement from the Human Rights Commission that it is concerned the Government did not carry out adequate consultation before going ahead with the citizenship referendum.

The commission is a statutory body set up under the Belfast Agreement to monitor human rights.

In its statement released today, it said it was "concerned that the Government chose not to consult with the Human Rights Commission, or indeed the All-Party Committee on the Constitution in advance of publishing the proposed Bill, or in advance of taking the decision to proceed with a referendum on this issue."

The statement continued: "The proposed amendment to the Constitution raises concerns about the future constitutional protection of children born in the State of parents who are not Irish citizens.

"In particular the Commission is concerned at the potential impact of the proposed amendment on the existing right set out in Article 2 of the Constitution to be part of the Irish Nation and on the fundamental rights set out in Articles 40-44 of the Constitution, particularly those that are explicitly restricted to citizens."

The Commission said it believed that data far provided by the Government to justify its case for the referendum " has not been adequately researched or analysed and that much of the evidence offered in support of the proposed amendment seems to be vague or anecdotal in nature."

Green Party justice spokesman, Mr Ciarán Cuffe, welcomed the statement and added: "We believe that the proposed amendment is a rushed and flawed attempt to curtail the constitutional rights of Irish citizens".

Sinn Féin's  spokesman on justice Mr Aengus Ó'Snodaigh said the Commission's observations in relation to  the  citizenship  referendum  were "a  damning indictment of the Government's proposal" and that they "justify calling a halt to the poll on June 11th."