Amendment a reasonable response, says Harney

IRISH citizenship should be available only to those who have a genuine connection to Ireland, Tánaiste Mary Harney said yesterday.

Speaking at the launch of the Progressive Democrats’ referendum campaign in Dublin yesterday, Ms Harney said the Government’s proposed constitutional amendment was a reasonable and measured response to allow the Dáil legislate for citizenship.

“We believe that Irish citizenship should be open to people who have shown a connection with Ireland, and to their children. Adults already have to be resident for three to five years to acquire citizenship by naturalisation,” she said.