O’Donnell makes dramatic intervention in citizenship debate

LIZ O’DONNELL’S dramatic intervention in the citizenship referendum debate yesterday was surprising: not in what she had to say but that it has taken her so long to say it.

Her disclosure at the British-Irish parliamentary meeting in west Cork yesterday that she had misgivings about the timing of the referendum is utterly consistent with her views on the subject.

As Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, with a strong brief in human rights and overseas development aid in the 1997-2002 Government, she adopted outspoken stances on the issue of refugees that put her at odds with colleagues.