Human Rights Commission: The Human Rights Commission has reiterated its concerns about the proposed citizenship referendum.
Following a request to consider the draft bill last April, the president of the commission, Dr Maurice Manning, said the commission still believed next month's referendum "may in itself raise issues relating to the protection of human rights".
In a statement issued yesterday, the commission raised concerns about the Government's lack of consultation with the commission or the All-Party Committee on the Constitution in advance of taking the decision to proceed with the referendum.
The commission also expressed concern about the future constitutional protection of children born in the State of parents who were not Irish citizens. It said much of the data so far provided by the Government to justify the proposed amendment has "not been adequately researched or analysed" and that much of the evidence offered in support of the proposed amendment seems to be "vague or anecdotal in nature".
"Specifically, the commission believes that the data offered is insufficient to allow anyone to draw inferences as to the motives of non-national parents giving birth in Ireland to the extent argued by the Government.
"Furthermore, the commission believes that the Government has not demonstrated that all other means of addressing the matter of public concern identified which would be less detrimental to the rights of children have been exhausted.
There was "at least an arguable case as to the potential impact of the proposed amendment on the Good Friday agreement.
"In view of the complex issues surrounding the interpretation of the agreement, the commission regrets that the Government did not take the opportunity to refer the matter to the joint committee of the two human rights commissions on the island, and/or to the parties of the Northern Ireland Assembly."
The Green Party welcomed the statement and said the proposed amendment was "flawed". Sinn Féin said the commission's report justified calling a halt to the referendum.