Tairgim leasú Uimh. a 28:
I gCuid 1, leathanach 7, líne 9, "nó náisiúntacht" a scriosadh
agus
I gCuid 2, leathanach 7, línte 18 agus 19, "or nationality" a scriosadh.
I move amendment No. 28:
In Part 1, page 6, line 9, to delete "nó náisiúntacht"
and
In Part 2, page 6, lines 18 and 19, to delete "or nationality".
This amendment seeks the deletion of the phrase "or nationality" in the main provision. There is some confusion regarding the distinction between citizenship and nationality, and in that section, the word "citizenship" occurs on three occasions, but the word "nationality" on only one. It has never been made clear, and does not seem to be clear in the Constitution, just what is the difference between citizenship and nationality. In the letters that passed between Deputy Quinn and the Taoiseach in 1998, the Taoiseach seemed to presume that nationality and citizenship were tantamount to being the same thing, although he did not supply any argument why he came to that conclusion. At the same time, the word "nationality" seems to occur from time to time in the Constitution, and here it occurs for the first time in the amendment proposed.
When one parent is an Irish citizen, the child of that parent has an entitlement to be an Irish citizen. It does not say that one parent has Irish citizenship or Irish nationality, yet it goes on to say that the person is not entitled, unless the child of an Irish parent, to Irish citizenship or nationality. Should it not read "Irish citizenship and nationality"? What is the extra meaning conveyed by "nationality"? Does the phrase mean citizenship or nationality, is it an addendum, or is it the same word in a different format? It is certainly not clear, and this amendment has been tabled to ask the Minister if he can throw some light on the issue. Is it tautology? If not, why does it occur only on this one occasion, when "citizenship" occurs on three occasions? "Nationality" is associated with it on this occasion, but not on the other three occasions that it occurs in the provision of the constitutional amendment.