Emergency if citizenship laws not changed, warns McDowell

A CASE currently before the European Court of Justice could create an emergency in Ireland if our citizenship laws were not changed, Justice Minister Michael McDowell claimed yesterday.

Mr McDowell said that if, as likely, the Chen case succeeded, Ireland will be used by other immigrants to secure the right to stay in Ireland and the rest of the EU for themselves and their children.

“The Chen case could precipitate an emergency if it went unaddressed. It will be immediately apparent that the birth of a child in Ireland can in certain circumstances, not in every circumstances, guarantee the right to remain in the European Union not merely for that child but that child’s parents.” Speaking at the Government’s final campaign briefing on tomorrow’s citizenship referendum, he said: “the legal advice given to Ms Chen will be given to others.”