Citizenship vote makes immigration election issue

IMMIGRATION is set to become a hot issue in the local and European election campaign as the Government is considering holding a contentious referendum on citizenship on the same polling day.

Already last night, the Government was coming into conflict with opposition parties over its emotive plans to restrict citizenship rights for Irish-born children of non-nationals.

The referendum, if passed, will enforce a new law requiring non-nationals to be living here for between three and five years for their Irish-born children to be granted citizenship.