The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr McDowell, said he thought they would all agree that the proponents of any change on the citizenship issue left themselves open to charges of racism.

"However, I also acknowledge that there is an onus on those who propose change to ensure that such changes are legitimate requirements of the common good and are not either overtly or covertly racist in intent. I am confident that the Government's proposals will achieve that aim and a great deal of work has gone into ensuring that they will be acceptable to Irish citizens and members of our immigrant community alike."

The Minister was speaking on a Fine Gael motion which had been tabled before the Government decision to hold the referendum.

It called for consultations with all members of the Oireachtas before a decision on a referendum was taken.

Mr McDowell said he wanted to make it clear that the Government's proposals would be prospective; it would not affect the rights of any person who had already obtained citizenship or who was already entitled to citizenship through birth on the island of Ireland.