Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government claims to aim to promote the rights of ethnic minorities. In recent days we have seen the spectacle of a candidate in the presidential contest singling out an ethnic minority. He has poured contempt on them with a racist commentary, all in a crude attempt to boost his poll ratings. These are racist comments from what we might call a desperate dragon. I understand that members of the Travelling Community in County Tipperary will protest at the visit of Mr. Casey to their area this afternoon and I wish them luck with that. Many people will have a strong feeling of solidarity towards that protest. I also hope that the people reject Mr. Casey's lines of argument and give him an award on polling day next week - the award of the wooden spoon.

On the more serious but not totally unrelated issue of hate crime against minorities, when will we see a comprehensive response to the Irish Council for Civil Liberties report on that subject, which was produced last August?

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