Citizenship referendum to be held despite fears of racism

THE Government is to press ahead with a controversial referendum on citizenship on the same day as the local and European elections, despite widespread calls to defer it due to concerns that it could heighten racist fears.

Although the Government has not formally announced the date of the proposed referendum, Progressive Democrats senator Tom Morrissey said yesterday that the date had been fixed as June 11.

However, representatives of Fine Gael, Labour, Sinn Féin, the Green Party and the Socialist Party marked International Day Against Racism yesterday by urging the Government to postpone the date of the referendum.