Labour leader Pat Rabbitte has called on the Government to go back to the drawing board with its proposals for a citizenship referendum.
Opening his party conference in Dublin tonight, he also said republicans need new language and fresh analysis to help them take the final step that would prove they were committed to peace.
Mr Rabbitte told delegates the proposed citizenship referendum was flawed and dangerous. He added that the Government was trying to force through the amendment in the absence of consensus in the hope of making electoral gain.
He said Fianna Fáil candidates had already begun to use the race issue in their literature.
The proposal would not even succeed in its avowed aim of closing off immigration loopholes, he claimed.
With the local and European elections eight weeks away, the party hopes to use the gathering as a showcase for candidates. Labour is looking to June's local elections to bring in new blood.
This weekend’s conference will be dominated by preparations for the poll. The party had a poor showing in 1999 and hopes to improve its position in June.
Earlier today, Labour joined with Fine Gael and the Green Party in jointly tabling an amendment that would long finger the referendum by referring it to an all party committee.
