Citizenship vote will damage Good Friday Agreement, says co-author

THE citizenship referendum is a devastating blow to the credibility of the Good Friday Agreement, a former US congressman and co-author of the Agreement indicated yesterday.

Speaking at a press conference organised by the Immigrant Council of Ireland, Bruce Morrison said the Government's willingness to tamper with Article Two of the Constitution sent the wrong signal at the worst time.

"The message is clear, if you complain enough, and you're stubborn enough, then the deal can be re-struck. That is devastating to the idea that people have to suck it up and do the business in the North and that's exactly the wrong message to be sending at this moment when, frankly, the institutions have fallen apart and the Governments are flailing about trying to get this thing restarted.