Ciarán Cuffe TD, Green Party Justice spokesperson, said today that, "The Government's decision to recall the Dáil to debate this issue for two days - with less than a week's notice - is indicative of the undue haste being applied to this issue. We want a reasoned debate rather than scaremongering sound bites from Michael McDowell. The Minister's selective use of statistics regarding non-national births has lowered the tone of the discussion."

"Citizenship is a complex issue that is a cornerstone of our democracy. I am disturbed that Minister McDowell is taking such a cavalier approach to this issue."

"A Green Paper should be prepared on this issue, and the All-Party Committee on the Constitution should hold hearings on the complex legal, social and economic rights associated with citizenship."

"We are opposed to a referendum taking place on the 11th June next as it will give a voice to those who wish to make race an issue in the Local and European Elections," concluded Deputy Cuffe.