The Government has accused those urging a No vote in the forthcoming citizenship referendum of being negative and dismissive.
At joint press conference in Government Buildings with the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Ms Coughlan, said: "This dismissive and emotional (No)campaign has thankfully not led to the sort of debate which they were obviously hoping for."
Mr McDowell said accusations that there is some "element of racism" in bringing Ireland's citizenship laws in line with the rest of Europe were untrue. "It is a morally neutral referendum at worst," said Mr McDowell.
He added that he believed the best way to prevent racism in Ireland was to have a strong effective law in place so that no accusation of abuse of the law could be levelled at it.
He also accused the No campaign of debating "peripheral issues" such as the timing of the referendum and the not the core arguments on citizenship.
"Ask yourself an honest question. If this was stand alone referendum, what percentage of the electorate would turn out?
Fifteen per cent perhaps?" asked Mr McDowell. "The Government made a courageous choice in deciding to bring the referendum when the people were going to the polls."
The Minister said if he decided to bring the referendum at the next General Election he would be accused of playing "the race card" to try and get the Government back into power.
"I urge voters to vote 'Yes' to restore control of the detail of our citizenship law to the Oireachtas," added Mr McDowell.