Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 March 2004
447 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in view of conflicting reports, the Government has decided when the proposed citizenship referendum will take place; if so, when; and if not, when the Cabinet will make its decision. [10029/04]
View answer453 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he intends to involve the Equality Authority, the Irish Human Rights Commission, the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism and other human rights and equality non-governmental organisations in a consultation process with respect to the proposed referendum on citizenship prior to making a decision on final wording and timing, as well as with respect to the drafting of support legislation; and if so, the timeframe for same. [10106/04]
View answer454 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the nature of the all-party consultation process with respect to the proposed referendum on citizenship; and the timeframe for same. [10107/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 447, 453 and 454 together.
The programme for Government contained a commitment to initiate all-party discussions on the issue of constitutional or other measures which might be required to address the question of applications from non-nationals to remain in the State on the basis of parentage of an Irish-born child. In pursuance of that commitment, I initiated the consultation process on 10 March 2004 by meeting with spokespeople for each of the Opposition parties on justice matters, including the Deputy. The briefing material which I had prepared and provided to the spokespeople as a basis for those consultations is now available on my Department's website at www.justice.ie.
The proposals for an amendment to the Constitution outlined at that meeting and for a draft implementing Bill are under development at present, and I welcome suggestions and contributions from whatever source which will assist in that process. I note that a number of governmental and non-governmental bodies, including some of those specifically named in the Deputy's question, have already made public statements on the matter. I am aware that there is correspondence between the Taoiseach and the leaders of some of the Opposition parties on the matter. I hold myself available to meet any of the Opposition spokespeople should they wish to contribute to the development of the proposals. My officials are also available to meet with representatives of governmental or non-governmental organisations who wish to make suggestions in this regard.
No Government decision has yet been made as to when the proposed referendum will be held, but the proposal is to publish the amendment of the Constitution Bill as soon as possible, and at the same time to produce a draft text of the proposed implementing Bill and other explanatory material.
