Ireland tightens ring of steel around fortress Europe with citizenship referendum

Guardian Unlimited ^ | 14 June 2004 | Angelique Chrisafis

[MegaSilver]

The Irish public cemented the ring of steel around fortress Europe this weekend, by voting overwhelmingly to change their constitution and limit the rights of citizenship to children born to foreign parents.

In a controversial referendum on the same day as Ireland's European and local elections, the electorate voted by four to one to redraw the country's citizenship laws. This prompted soul searching that booming Ireland had forgotten its emigrant past and aligned itself with "fortress" countries like Britain.

Ireland was the only country in the EU which gave automatic citizenship to all children born on its soil, no matter the nationality of their parents. People remembered the "No dogs, no blacks, no Irish" signs in 1950s Britain and styled themselves as the country of "a hundred thousand welcomes".

But the government called a referendum on citizenship claiming that pregnant women from developing countries were flying to Ireland to give birth. These "passport tourists" were then allegedly using their babies to stay in the EU. The government said this was a loophole which needed to be closed and called the referendum a victory.

The exact nature of the new citizenship laws will now have to be decided. A child born in Ireland will now only be Irish if at least one parent has lived in Ireland for three of the past four years.

More than 59% of the electorate voted: 79% in favour of tightening the citizenship laws and 21% against.

The Irish Labour party said the government used "scaremongering tactics" and complained of a lack of proper debate. A spokesman said the government must now properly debate its new measures.

The Campaign Against the Racist Referendum, a coalition of activists and political groups, said racist attacks in Ireland had increased especially against pregnant women since the referendum was announced. Mark Grehan, a spokesman for the group, said: "We are disappointed with the result. The Irish people have effectively ignored our past and rejected our future."

Meanwhile, early results in Ireland's local elections showed Sinn Féin making large gains on local councils at the expense of Bertie Ahern's ruling Fianna Fáil. As counting continued yesterday afternoon, Sinn Féin was taking the young, male, working class vote, particularly in urban areas. Martin McGuinness called the results a "significant breakthrough".

In 1999, Sinn Féin took 21 local council seats. By 5pm yesterday, they had more than doubled that. Mr McGuinness denied other parties' comments that this was a flash in the pan, saying the success would not "fade away".

Sinn Féin fielded about 250 candidates in the local elections. Before counting had ended yesterday, it had significantly increased its presence in local government in Dublin. As the European count continued, the party was also hoping to gain its first MEP with Mary Lou McDonald in Dublin.

[DUMBGRUNT]

"79% in favour of tightening the citizenship"
does not equal a
"controversial referendum "

[Jim Noble]

A child born in Ireland will now only be Irish if at least one parent has lived in Ireland for three of the past four years.

Should be an easy requirement to meet, insh'allah.

[MegaSilver]

"79% in favour of tightening the citizenship" does not equal a "controversial referendum"

The center-left objected to it; therefore, it is controversial.

</ progressivist logic>

[swampfox98]

The government said this was a loophole which needed to be closed and called the referendum a victory.

Wonder what would have to happen here in America for our government to say this? Answer: It will never happen.