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Keeping Irishness Open

On June 11, Ireland goes to the polls again. There will of course be the business of electing our local and European representatives, but we will also be faced with a referendum on this occasion. This referendum is to determine whether or not all people born in Ireland can continue to hold Irish citizenship.

So what of the nitty gritty? Well, if we vote yes, then a child will not have an automatic birthright unless one of his parents is an Irish citizen. If we vote no then any child born on the island of Ireland, will continue to be an Irish citizen. While discussion of the referendum has been somewhat muted, (let's face it, referenda are scarcely the key focal point even when they stand alone, not to mind when they are with elections.)some passionate appeals have been coming from both sides. The yes side claim our nation (not just state because our constitution affords citizenship to those in the north as well)is being abused by shady immigrants who seek to take advantage of a loophoie inadvertently created following the referendum on changing articles 2 & 3 in 1998. The No side in its most outspoken say the referendum is racist and in less outspoken terms still believe this to be restricting human rights to immigrants and asylum seekers.

Far be it from me to tell Irish people how they should vote, but in keeping with the name of the site, I will give my tuppenceworth on what I think the right choice is on June 11th. From where I stand the arguments from the yes camp are very weak and unconvincing. This loophole excuse does nothing for me. Draft better wording in future, if you might have unforeseen consequences. It is not that complicated. As for no country in the EU having a system like ours, well should we not be proud of that. That we are setting an example to Europe as to how to treat people. I can scarcely comprehend the difficulty some people have with the concept that people born on the island are entitled to citizenship. I would have thought that should be a fundamental concept of social justice.

Just look at possible consequences. A teenage boy, born and bred in Ireland with a strong (Insert county here)accent is not a citizen yet a middle age man from Namtucket whose great grandfather was Irish, has never set foot in the country and probably still believes in leprechauns is an Irish citizen. Now I have no interest in robbing people of Irish extraction of their citizenship rights. Some are very proud of their roots and fair enough. However surely a person born and bred in Ireland should have the same rights and not be punished for their parents' nationality. I accept the scenario I paint is not realistic as citizenship would most likely be furnished before the child reaces teenage years but that is not the point.

Ireland is not the only country with this system thus far. New Zealand have it, the USA have it. No nation plays the patriotism card bigger than America, no matter where there ancestry may be from. I will accept there may be a different dynamic in America, but I still fail to see how automatic citizenship is a threat to our nation as some have suggested.

On a TV documentary shown on RTE this St Patrick's Day, a Nigerian, living in Ireland had this to say. "Ireland is my home, it is the only home my kids have ever known. Okay their father is Nigerian but they have never been to Nigeria." This same man is married to a German, hence his children have no irish blood per se. Does this stop them being Irish? Their father certainly does not believe so and neither do I.

Ironically Ian paisley, the sworn enemy of all things "Irish and Papist", the man who believes the twenty-six county state is run by a fascist regime, is fully entitled to Irish citizenship. Why? Because he was born here, his parents may have been born here too, but had no loyalty to the state. No one would dare try to take this citizenship right from the people of the six counties. Then why take it from people who may very well stay long term and play an active role in Irish society. If they decide to leave Ireland in a few years, then citizenship won't matter to them anyway so why deprive them of it?

There is a nasty habit in this country of assuming the worst of people who don't come yielding chequebooks. Now don't get me wrong, the Irish are an inherently kind group of people for the most part and I would say even that this applies to many who are sceptical of immigration, but our attitude to the issue of immigration and citizenship does not make much sense to me. Why do we assume people are coming here to screw us? People thought that of Irish people abroad too and we did not appreciate it. Some people say "but the Irish worked" well most of our immigrants probably would too, but they're not allowed. Of course there will be chancers and we should reserve the right to deport such people providing they are not being sent back to countries where they are unsafe. It may just be that most people coming here are ordinary decent people who just want to make their life here. Is that so hard to believe?

All citizenship means is that in a few years time (there are a few cases of this alrady) you will here someone in a strong Dublin or Cork accent calling your name and when you turn round you will see someone of a different race or colour to you, but could very well have an Ireland or Celtic jersey on them. They will in many cases have a strong affinity for their roots, but they will be Irish. I don't see the problem with any of this. Personally as a Cork man I look forward to the day when Corkonians of different ethnic backgrounds can unite together to sing "the Langer" and enjoy themselves as Corkonians and Irish citizens.

I will be voting No on June 11, but I will let ye to make up your own minds.

by

Donal O'Driscoll
10th June 2004

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