Public meeting to discuss citizenship referendum

by Janine Wed Jul 07, 2004 12:45

Does anyone when the legislation willa ctually be passed? Children born to non eun parents at this moment are not being given Irish citizenship, regardless of how long their arents have been living here, because the legislation which supposedly allows children born to parents who've been living here for three years or longer, hasn't been passed yet. When will they pass this legislation and what will happen to these kids born in this interim period to parents who've lived here longer than three years?

by lish Thu Jun 17, 2004 17:27

the referendum result shows we've a lot to do in getting accurate info out, in building up links with immigrant communities & in damage control in terms of upcoming immigration legislation. if it passes as is citizenship will be at the sole discretion of the minister for justice & can be revoked at any time.

we have the opportunity in ireland to not make the mistakes that so many other countries have made of mismanaging immigration, making immigrants second class citizens and failing to deal with the social fallout. this referendum is the first step in blowing the chance of a harmonious , integrated ireland. if i were an immigrant i wouldn't be feeling too welcome right now.

the RTE exit poll statistics told us that 37% of the yes votes were because of "abuse of our welfare system"- a completely unsubstantiated & inflammatory claim from McDowell.
that over 25% believed we have too many immigrants ( without knowing how many we have, where from , why they're here or what benefits they are entitled to).
when with a falling birth rate we're not even at a rate of replacement.

what the yes voters weren't told:
that immigration went down 32% last year.
that 42,000 migrant worker visas were given out last year yet many people believe everyone they see who doesn't look irish is an asylum seeker.
the advantages of immigration both economic & cultural.
the no campaign was scattered & in the case of many groups too little, too late.
now there's a lot of work to do .
see you at the meeting.

by anon Mon Jun 14, 2004 19:16

Seriously is there any point in a meeting?
Its over and done with now. i voted no but i can deal with it,its about time you"do gooders" get over yourselves and learn to deal with things for god sake.