Presidential candidate Peter Casey will face protests as he visits Tipperary today.
On Casey’s official schedule for today (18 October), is “Visiting the houses at Cabra Bridge [sic], Thurles, Tipperary which members of the travelling community refused” between 4pm and 4.30pm.
Casey, who is polling between 1% and 2%, has been criticised by each of his five presidential opponents, as well as several TDs, for his comments on the travelling community.
Pavee Point issued a statement on Wednesday night refuting Casey’s claims, saying: “We have never asked for houses. We never asked for stables. And we never asked for paddocks.
“We made an agreement with the local authority that we would move from our current location if grazing land was provided for our horses – something that is dear to us and a central part of our lives for generations. This is not asking for anything outside recognised government policy and nothing more than what we were promised. We did not want anything for nothing.
“Instead of fulfilling their promise to us, Tipperary County Council have decided to wage a campaign against us through the media. They have not even talked to us, but seem to want to communicate with us through radio and television.”
Tipperary County Council was one of the the four local authorities that nominated Peter Casey for the presidency.
“This has all been an attempt to deepen the division between settled people and Travellers who both have accommodation needs. We are calling on people from both communities not to fall into this hatred trap,” said Pavee Point.
The representation group has also called for a silent protest at Cabraghbridge to coincide with Casey’s visit.
Their statement can be read in full here.
On The Floating Voter podcast, Casey was heard saying:
“That’s a load of nonsense. They are not from Romany or whatever.”
“Can you imagine the brave person from Dublin that would say, ‘I’d love a lovely four-bedroom house with solar panels and beautifully kitted-out kitchens’?”
He went on to say: “Somebody needs to sit up and say this is nonsense. Here we are are giving them luxurious houses and they’re turning them down because they’ve no stables.”
Casey went on to double down on these comments during last night’s televised debate on The Pat Kenny Show, despite calls to withdraw the remarks.
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