Madam, - As the mother of two Irish children, I value their good fortune and privilege in being born in a country which respects their human rights and affords them opportunities to make the most of their lives.
As an Irish citizen and a taxpayer, I am more than happy to extend this privilege to children born here to non-national parents. These parents include those who have come to Ireland specifically, so that their children will have Irish citizenship and might thus enjoy the opportunities and protection that we so value for our children.
The term "non-national" suggests people without a nationality. However, these people all have a nationality. Some may come from countries that are war -weary, have poor human rights records and are not democratically run. Many may have little hope of having a standard of living which will allow them to fulfil their hopes and dreams.
Given that the vast majority of refugees are displaced within the Third World and the majority of economic migrants make it no further than the nearest city slums, is it too much to ask that we protect the right of a handful to enjoy the gift of Irish citizenship? - Yours, etc.,
GER HALBERT, Glenville, Co Cork.
Madam, - The forthcoming referendum on restricting the right to citizenship of children born in Ireland to non-national parents has received much publicity in your paper - nearly all of it advocating a rejection of the proposal, or a postponement at least. I wonder is this because of your editorial stance on the matter, or is it just that nobody wrote in supporting the proposal?
Its critics say the issue should be considered carefully and not rushed into. Personally I feel this referendum is long overdue - more than five years in fact, since the clause granting citizenship to anyone born in Ireland should never have been part of the Good Friday Agreement. If this clause had been made clear to people in 1998, I wonder if a majority would still have voted for it.
Citizenship of a country is a valuable privilege, not to be conferred lightly on anybody who just happens to be born in Ireland, regardless of their parents' origin. This article was included in the agreement in an attempt to persuade unionists to think of themselves as citizens of Ireland. Some hope! If the majority in the North vote for a United Ireland some time in the future, that would be the time to change our laws and Constitution.
I disagree, however, with the part of the proposed new legislation regarding the period of residence in Ireland of parents of Irish-born children. Citizenship should be granted to Irish-born children only where at least one of the parents is an Irish citizen, or entitled to become one. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN VAUGHAN, Supple Park, Dunshaughlin, Co Meath.