Residency ruling backs referendum move, says McDowell
The European Court of Justice yesterday said the British governmentās refusal to grant residency rights to Man Levette Chen and her Belfast-born child breaches EU discrimination laws. If the decision is upheld in a final ruling later this year, it will mean Mrs Chen and her child can reside in Britain.
Mr McDowell said the ruling confirmed his fears that the basis of Irelandās rights of citizenship constituted āa significant loophole with significant European dimensionsā.