Sinn Féin TD Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has today branded the comments by a Donegal Fianna Fáil Councillor in which he called for Travellers to be housed “in isolation” away from settled communities as utterly disgraceful.
The Buncrana-based TD also called for county councillor Sean McEniff to apologise over the remarks.
He further called on Fianna Fáil leader Mícheal Martin to distance himself from the comments and outline clearly what disciplinary action Fianna Fáil will take against the councillor.
Deputy Mac Lochlainn said the comments were tantamount to a hate speech.
“Councillor Sean McEniff made a number of remarks about traveller families ranging from saying that they would ‘wreck’ houses to branding them as ‘bad eggs’ and also saying ‘You wouldn’t want them beside you and I don’t want them beside me.’ These comments are tantamount to hate speech and they have no place in Irish society.
“There is a gap in trust between the traveller and settled community and it is the responsibility of all public representatives to act responsibly and build trust. Anti-traveller racism in all forms is unacceptable in Ireland, and it is mind boggling to think that Councillor McEniff would think ethnic slurs are tolerable.
“We must challenge racism at every opportunity and I am calling on Mícheal Martin to distance himself from the comments and outline what disciplinary action he will take against this Councillor.
“It is an example of the systemic racism that Travellers face in Irish society and for this reason Councillor McEniff should apologise unreservedly immediately.”