The socialist campaign to profit from racism

ishmael whale

There is something ironic about this campaign labelling the referendum as being about race, which it is not, and then trying to maintain that proponents of the referendum are the ones playing the race card.

If anything the so-called "Campaign against the Racist Referendum" are the ones being irresponsible by attempting to profit politically by raising passions on the race issue.

Activists launch campaign to oppose ‘racist’ referendum
07/04/2004 - 1:53:18 PM

Activists opposed to the Government’s proposed citizenship referendum have launched a campaign urging the public to vote 'no' to the measure.

The proposed referendum is due to take place in tandem with the local and European elections on June 11.

It is designed to remove the automatic right to citizenship from children born in Ireland to non-national parents.

The Government has insisted that the measure is designed to bring Irish law in line with the rest of Europe, but opponents claim it is an attempt to play the race card during the elections.

Speaking at the launch of the Campaign against the Racist Referendum, Labour Party election candidate Ivan Bacik said the case for introducing a fundamental constitutional change had not been made and the Government had not allowed enough time for a proper debate on the matter.

Hairy Homer

Originally posted by ishmael whale
Ivan Bacik said the case for introducing a fundamental constitutional change had not been made and the Government had not allowed enough time for a proper debate on the matter.

Well she's absolutely right about that. And given her name, perhaps it's a sensitive issue with her. I'll be voting against this stupid, presumptuous, mean-spirited and totally unnecessary referendum, speaking as a returned emigrant.

The thinking behind it, from the little we have been allowed to hear, is that immigrants impose an intolerable strain on our welfare resources. They only come here for the hospital treatment and the dole.

That is cobblers! Complete and utter bollox!! If that was the case, why weren't immigrants flocking into the countries of the old Soviet bloc?

They come here because they think there is an opportunity to work and improve their lot. Let them in.

We should be looking to the mistakes our neighbours made and try to learn from them when dealing with the issue of migration. We should also look to our long experience of being a nation of emigrants to try to understand where the differences between a 'native' and an immigrant population lie, how they can be prevented from deteriorating to division and putting in place simple mechanisms to achieve social harmony. It's not that difficult actually, as long as the correct mindset is in place.

We could perhaps start with making a short volume of 'John Hume-speak' compulsory reading in schools.

Instead, putting in place a constitutional amendment that in effect says you're not properly Irish and are not likely to be so unless your ancestors of several generations were born here as well as yourself will pander only to the lame brained, the unimaginative and the racist.

pdh

No, this constitutional amendment is about bringing us into line with the rest of Europe, and even then, in my opinion we will still be to liberal.
The real question people should be asking is how come it took the government so long to deal with this issue ???
I think it was probably a fear of the PC elite who somehow have come to have an influence way and above what their numbers merit.

I expect after this post that the PC ultra-leftists & liberals will label me a racist and what not, that's there only form of debate on this issue.
So for the record, I am not a FF/FG/PD voter. In the past I have voted for Lab, IndSoc, PSF & Green. However over the last few years I feel that I have been disenfranchised by the political system.
Come June I will spoil my vote except on the Referendum where it will be a YES

dathi1

They come here because they think there is an opportunity to work and improve their lot. Let them in.

Illegal immigrants should be dealt with at the border. Your above post has no specific number quota. You mean open the borders to 3 billion people looking for work worldwide? The referendum although flawed compared to other European countries minimum 10 residency is a small step in the right direction. The open border let them all in crowd are afraid of the 90% + result in favour.

tricky D

At the start of the present term, this spin-ridden Government stated that they had no plans for any referenda until an opinion poll they conducted indicated it was a vote-enhancer, similarly for e-voting. While time is spent on rushing and guillotining these matters through, other important and far more longstanding issues and legislative imperatives/directives get delayed even further. This Government only has the eye on their own electoral ball and not on producing solutions to immigration management.

Besides, if this gets through, to what country will the party apply for citizenship, how will it work with lots of different countries and does this happen anywhere else in the world?? (I dunno)

ixoy

The Irish Times, at the weekend, posted the criteria for other countries where people seek citizenship. No other country in Europe (or even the accession states) matches our policy. Some countries (Portugal I think) have a policy of a decade before naturalisation or slightly less if you can speak the native language. There's also in Britain the culture test. So if by changing our policy to match that of our countries, are we labelling the entire EU racist? Of course not. There's a necessary line to be drawn between social responsibility to others AND social responsibilities to the citizens of our state. I'm in full support of us having the choice in this matter. Most people, I imagine, will have already made up their minds on the issue and any debate between political parites is unlikely to change that. I'd be very surprised if this referendum doesn't get passed.

ishmael whale

Originally posted by Hairy Homer
Instead, putting in place a constitutional amendment that in effect says you're not properly Irish and are not likely to be so unless your ancestors of several generations were born here as well as yourself will pander only to the lame brained, the unimaginative and the racist.

This is an example of how much of the opposition to the amendment is based on emotive misinformation. As other contributors have correctly pointed out, following the referendum Ireland will still have an open policy that extends citizenship to children of non-nationals lawfully resident in the country for two years. This is a more generous, liberal and welcoming policy than any of our EU partners. What the amendment is about is simply closing an unintended loophole that extends citizenship to children of people entering the country illegally.

Victor

Originally posted by ishmael whale
following the referendum Ireland will still have an open policy that extends citizenship to children of non-nationals lawfully resident in the country for two years.

Has a bill been published specifying the duration?

Hobbes

It was on the news. One parent has to be in the country as a resident for three years or an Irish national to get citizenship.

If they are an irish national in the UK thier child gets citizenship.

Sounds fair enough to me. I'll be voting yes unless someone can point out how this is not fair?