Court ruling will encourage racism - SF

Sinn Fein’s spokesperson on justice Aengus O Snodaigh has said today's Supreme Court judgment made second-class citizens of some Irish children and would encourage racism.

The court dismissed an appeal earlier today by asylum seekers claiming to have the right to stay in Ireland by virtue of having Irish-born children.

“This ruling by the Supreme Court is a deep disappointment to all of us who value the fundamental equal rights of all Irish children and indeed equality amongst citizens,” he said.

“Rather than cherishing all children of the nation equally the judgment in effect makes second-class citizens of some Irish children because of the ethnicity of their parents.

“I believe this will encourage racism in that it will give succour to those who feel that Irish children born to people of a different ethnic background are somehow less Irish.”