SDLP claims on referendum rejected

THE Government last night rejected claims by the SDLP that assurances it sought on the constitutional amendment on citizenship were conditional on the party endorsing a Yes vote in the referendum.

Party leader Mark Durkan said yesterday he still had not received a reply to a letter sent by him to the Taoiseach at the end of April seeking assurances about the implications the amendment would have for the Good Friday Agreement.

When an SDLP delegation met with Justice Minister Michael McDowell over the assurances, they were informed by officials the reply was conditional on the party’s support for the referendum, he said.