'Voter issue study led to referendum call'

A FEROCIOUS political row broke out last night after the Government was accused of calling the referendum on citizenship after its private research identified immigration as the main voter issue.

The allegation was made by Labour leader Pat Rabbitte in the Dáil when he claimed that US consultants brought in by Fianna Fáil had put immigration ahead of health by 17 points as the main electoral issue.

However, his contention was angrily dismissed last night as "absolute lies".

"It's a complete Rabbitte invention and not for the first time," said a party spokeswoman, who insisted no opinion research had been carried out by FF into this issue. "No doubt he will produce a document tomorrow that will rock the foundations of the State," she added, in a swiping reference to a 1994 speech of Mr Rabbitte's.

Last night, a Labour spokesman said Mr Rabbitte stood fully over his remarks. He said it would be "astonishing" if FF had not researched voter attitudes in the run-up to the June elections.

During leaders' questions yesterday, Mr Rabbitte contended that on February 17, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told the Dáil there were no plans to hold a constitutional referendum in 2004.

Yet, he said, Justice Minister Michael McDowell brought forward proposals for this referendum only three weeks later.

In a reference to "consultants from the US" brought in by FF, he said: "It is they who have identified the immigration issue as 17 points ahead of health as the main issue."

He was referring to a US political consultancy headed by Bob Shrum, who is directing Democrat John Kerry's campaign for the US presidency. Mr Shrum has also advised FF on its electoral strategy in the past.

It also emerged yesterday that the meeting between Mr McDowell and the Masters of Dublin's maternity hospitals occurred as far back as October 2002. He had cited the meeting as a factor underlying his decision to call a referendum.

A spokeswoman for the minister said he had inadvertently referred to autumn 2003 as the date, in media briefings.

Tánaiste Mary Harney told the Dáil yesterday that the Government had not yet decided on a date for the referendum.

Amid opposition claims the Government would play the 'race card' if it was held on election day, she said the onus would be on all parties to ensure that it did not become a race issue.