Referendum won’t ban legitimate immigration
Non-nationals seeking economic refuge are free to apply for a work permit to come to Ireland. Non-nationals seeking an environment safe from persecution and fear are free to come to this county and seek asylum as a refugee. The only impact of voting yes to this referendum will be that children born to parents in either of these groups will not acquire Irish citizenship on the date of their birth but rather citizenship of the country of their parents.
In the extreme circumstance, where, due to war or any other calamity, children cannot acquire the citizenship of the county of their parents, the Irish government will award Irish citizenship to avoid the case of a 'stateless' child.
We have already committed to this under international law as the minister has made clear.
If any of these non-nationals decide to remain in Ireland as they will be entitled to through either the work
permit scheme or having been deemed genuine refugees their children will then be entitled to Irish citizenship after a number of years (three years of residency out of the last four years is the figure contained in the proposed Dáil bill that would follow the referendum.
(See www.justice.ie).
Those of us voting yes in this referendum are not turning our backs on anyone. We are simply asking non-nationals to commit to this country for a number of years before their children are awarded citizenship. Have your say on referendum day. Vote yes!
Linda Harty,
Lissycurrig,
Causeway,
Co Kerry.
