Commissions to discuss citizenship referendum

The Human Rights Commissions from both sides of the border are due to meet later this month to discuss the Government’s proposed citizenship referendum.

The two bodies, which were established under the Good Friday Agreement, are expected to discuss the effect of the planned referendum on the citizenship rights contained in the 1998 peace deal.

That document granted Irish citizenship rights to everyone born on the island of Ireland, but the Government wants to limit this to children whose parents have been resident on the island for three of the previous four years.

Politicians opposed to the referendum proposals described the plan as a unilateral alteration of the Good Friday Agreement.