Yes camp gets a boost from Leinster poll
According to the poll carried out by Lansdowne Market Research this Tuesday and Wednesday 62% were not in favour of allowing children whose parents are not Irish to qualify for citizenship.
Just 29% of those surveyed thought the children had a right to automatic citizenship. The remaining 9% had not yet made up their minds.
If passed, the citizenship referendum will allow the Government to introduce legislation requiring that only children of non-nationals who have been here legally for three of the previous four years can qualify for citizenship.
The result, while not strictly indicative of how people will actually vote on June 11, nevertheless clearly shows strong support in the East constituency for the principle behind the Government's proposed constitutional change.
The poll also shows a clear swing in favour of the Government's position compared to previous Irish Examiner polls in the South and North West constituencies.
Last week's Munster poll found just 44% of voters were in favour of denying automatic citizenship to children of non-national parents as proposed, while 41% of those polled said they would not like to see citizenship rights withdrawn.
The North West poll, carried out last weekend, returned similar figures with 47% in favour of denying citizenship to such children and 43% against the prospect.
With Fianna Fáil's referendum campaign launched last Sunday and the Progressive Democrats on Tuesday, the latest figures will give the Yes side a timely boost just two weeks before voters go to the polls.
It now appears almost inevitable that the No campaigners will not have enough votes to defeat the referendum, despite considerable support from international experts and respected members of the legal community.
Those campaigning for the No side include former US Congressman Bruce Morrison, and Lawyers Against the Amendment, headed up by Trinity Law Professor William Binchy. The Labour Party, the Green Party and Sinn Féin, as well as several independents, are also against the referendum. Fine Gael is in favour of the poll, but concerned at the timing.
Yesterday's revelation by the Irish Examiner of documentary evidence supporting Justice Minister Michael McDowell's claims of "citizenship tourism" will be another blow to the No camp. The final Irish Examiner poll in the Dublin constituency will be published next week.
