Micheál Martin has a responsibility to treat McEniff anti-traveller comments seriously – Cllr. Mick Nugent

Micheál Martin has a responsibility to treat McEniff anti-traveller comments seriously – Cllr. Mick Nugent Sinn Féin Councillor Mick Nugent believes that Michéal Martin has a responsibility to treat the anti-traveller comments made by Fianna Fáil’s Sean McEniff with the utmost seriousness. The Donegal-based Councillor called for the segregation of travellers from settled communities on RTE’s Morning Ireland radio programme. Cllr.Nugent says that he is concerned that Deputy Martin, as leader of one the country’s major political parties, has remained silent on an issue of blatant racism. “I don’t think any political organisation or leader could stand over the racist comments made by Cllr. McEniff on the national airwaves this week. His suggestion has all the hallmarks of Apartheid. I would imagine that these reckless and discriminatory remarks caused a great deal distress for members of the travelling here in Cork.” “The alarming thing is that this not the first time Cllr.McEniff has made these type of comments and yet Deputy Martin has failed to address a matter that goes to the very heart of citizen’s rights in this country. A public condemnation and disciplinary action would have been an almost reflexive action for any organisation with a rights-based ethos. Fianna Fáil has shown a disgraceful lack of leadership on this. “I would also be worried about the kind of message that is being communicated to young people as a result of Deputy Martin’s failure to challenge the explicit bigotry of a party representative. It is time for a national discussion about the barrier of distrust between travelling and settled people in this country. Unfortunately, the silence of the Fianna Fáil leadership will only go to strengthen that barrier. “I don’t think it is acceptable for Fianna Fáil to hide behind the line of showing respect for the ‘personal positions’ of party Councillors. That’s a cop-out. Racism is the complete antithesis of respect. I hope all Fianna Fáil representatives in Cork will publicly condemn the comments over the next couple of days. The remarks by Cllr.McEniff and the silence of Micheal Martin are an affront to the human dignity of travelling community.” ENDS