Citizenship referendum ‘outrageous insult to Irish citizens’

THE Government’s citizenship referendum is an outrageous insult to the citizens of Ireland, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has claimed.

ICCL director Aisling Reidy said people “should be insulted that politicians who refuse to produce the real facts around this issue, are using the Constitution, the people’s document, as a plaything.”

The Government decided this week to push ahead with the referendum in tandem with local and European elections on June 11. Opposition parties and human rights groups have expressed widespread concern, accusing the Government of using a cynical ploy by playing the race card in the forthcoming elections.