Timing of referendum worrying

DESPITE Tánaiste Mary Harney’s denials, it is hard to disagree with Labour leader Pat Rabbitte’s claim that the Government is “exploiting the immigration issue” by holding the citizenship referendum vote on June 11.

Disturbing evidence of the Coalition’s heavy-handed approach towards the immigration question has emerged amid revelations that the Garda National Immigration Bureau is ordering deportees to surrender the passports of Irish children or face arrest.

This tactic should cease immediately as it is in outright conflict with the constitutional rights of every Irish child. The explosive nature of the immigration debate was seen in the Dáil yesterday when Fine Gael foreign affairs spokesman Gay Mitchell was told to leave the chamber. While Ms Harney rejects claims the Coalition’s handling of the issue was “ dishonest and underhand”, the timing of the referendum is worrying.