The prominent Government backbencher, Liz O'Donnell, has said she has misgivings about the decision to hold the referendum on citizenship on the same day as the local and European elections.
However, the Progressive Democrats' TD for Dublin South also said there was a degree of abuse of Irish citizenship regulations that has to be closed.
Ms O’Donnell also called on all politicians to ensure that race did not become an issue during the forthcoming local and European elections.
On the North, Ms O'Donnell said it is time to stop criticising Sinn Féin over the issue of decommissioning.
Ms O’Donnell told the British/Irish Parliamentary body that the over focus on republican decommissioning was misguided.
Ms O’Donnell also told the joint organisation that she was against any proposal to fine Sinn Féin representatives because of ongoing IRA activity.
Instead, she said, the Government should talk to Sinn Féin to try to get the party to support policing in the North.
