IRELAND’S BEST-SELLING DAILY NEWSPAPER Seachtain Creamy haddock chowder Nuachtán do Clodagh gach scoláirí McKenna’s Saor gach Céadaoin Midweek Meals www.independent.ie Wednesday, October 17, 2018 €2.00 (£1.30 in Northern Ireland) C Casey faces calls to quit Áras race over ‘racist’ Traveller comments Kevin Doyle The businessman launched They are not from Romany or Floating Voter’. When chal- Mr Casey cited an ongoing the Travelling community and GROUP POLITICAL EDITOR a lengthy attack on the Travel- whatever.” lenged on his views, Mr Casey dispute in Tipperary where six the Irish Human Rights and ler community, arguing: “They Mr Casey was speaking on doubled down, saying the homes are empty in a €1.7m Equality Commission, said: PRESIDENTIAL candidate are not paying their fair share Independent.ie’s podcast ‘The arrival of Travellers “devas- development because families “He should withdraw from Peter Casey is facing calls to of taxes in society.” tates the prices of the houses”. living on an unauthorised site the campaign. He’s shown pull out of the election after History was made last year “Let’s call a spade a spade. nearby want stables for horses. he’s not fit to represent all the claiming Travellers should when the Dáil gave formal “Your house price doesn’t The comments were people of Ireland. This man is not be recognised as an eth- recognition to Travellers as a Independent.ie: Listen to start going through the roof described by Pavee Point a racist. He is scapegoating my nic minority because they are distinct ethic group within the Peter Casey’s remarks on the as soon as you get two dozen as “grossly insulting and community.” “basically people camping in State. However, Mr Casey said: Floating Voter podcast Travellers moving in down the offensive”. someone else’s land”. “That’s a load of nonsense. street from you,” he said. David Joyce, a member of Full story, Pages 12-13 Lifeline for May of more time to make Border deal Kevin Doyle the ‘transition period’, during ern Ireland inside the customs and Cormac McQuinn which Britain will still operate union unless and until the within EU rules. Border question is resolved. THE EU is open to the idea of The arrangement is cur- To avoid creating a border allowing Britain to leave the rently due to run for 21 down the Irish Sea, UK Prime bloc over a longer period of months, up to December 2020. Minister Theresa May has sug- time in return for agreeing to Such a move allows more gested keeping all of Britain prevent a hard Border. time for Britain and the EU to inside the customs union for a Ahead of a crucial summit sort out a new trade relation- limited time. of European leaders today, ship, including a permanent The EU is open to this idea EU Brexit negotiator Michel way of avoiding a hard Border. but says there can be no spe- Down and out: Welsh loss leaves Ireland on brink Barnier has offered a new pro- In return for the exten- cific end date for Northern posal to break the deadlock. sion the EU wants the UK to Ireland. Shattered: Ireland’s Shane Duffy falls to the turf after Ireland’s defeat to Wales in the Nations The proposal on the table sign-up to a legally binding League in the Aviva Stadium in Dublin last night. The defeat leaves Ireland facing relegation to is an extension by a year of ‘backstop’ that will keep North- Full coverage, Pages 4-5 League C of the competition and will increase pressure on manager Martin O’Neill. See Sport Recommended retail price of the Irish Independent in ROI is €2.00 (£1.30 in Northern Ireland) Vol. 127 No. 248 Irish Independent C 12 Wednesday, October 17, 2018 IRISH INDEPENDENT News Race for the Áras Casey sparks Casey: ‘I don’t believe Travellers should be gi outrage with :: Presidential candidate Peter Casey joined ‘Nonsense’: Peter Kevin Doyle on ‘The Floating Voter’ Casey was forthright in his views on Travellers. podcast to discuss his Áras ambitions. He PHOTO: MARK CONDREN his ‘racist’ now faces a backlash over this exchange ETER Casey KD: They are seen as a remarks on was asked minority ethnicity. how his view PC: That’s a load of nonsense. that it’s easy to They are not from Romany or become rich whatever. They are basically in Ireland sits people that are camping in Travellers P with voters at a other people’s land. Imagine time that other candidates are the poor farmer whose land talking about homelessness. they camped on. Who’d buy the land from him? Peter Casey: You’ve got The neighbours in the Kevin Doyle people turning down houses houses all around. Do you and Shane Phelan because it’s not where they think this is great for my Independent.ie: Listen to want to live, it’s not what property value that I’ve now PRESIDENTIAL candidate Peter Casey’s remarks on the they want. I’m sorry, if you’re got three dozen caravans Peter Casey is facing calls Floating Voter podcast being offered a free house you down the road? That’s just to pull out of the race after should take it. wrong. Somebody needs to sit claiming Travellers should And then you’ve got this up and say this is nonsense. not be recognised as an eth- itor, added: “I don’t think any ridiculous situation down in We have given them nic minority because they are presidential campaign in the Tipperary. The poor council, luxurious houses and they are “basically people camping in past has ever stooped to this or people of Tipperary, paid turning them down because someone else’s land”. level of blatant racism.” €1.7m to build six luxurious they want stables. The businessman launched a He said the candidate’s views houses. We’re talking state of But they know nobody else lengthy attack on the commu- were “founded on ignorance, the art, solar panels, amazing will move into the house. nity, arguing: “They are not prejudice and pure racism”. finishes inside houses for the Could you imagine the paying their fair share of taxes “The notion that we all live in Travellers. And they won’t brave person from Dublin in society.” caravans and pull up on peo- move in because they want that would say ‘oh I’d love a History was made last year ple’s land is rubbish,” he said. stables for their horses. I four-bedroom house with when the Dáil gave formal Martin Collins, co-director mean how ridiculous have solar panels and beautifully recognition to Travellers as a of Pavee Point Traveller and we become as a society kitted-out kitchens’? Do you distinct ethnic group within Roma Centre, said: “These where they are turning down think they’d move in past the the State. comments put his presiden- beautiful, four-bedroom Travellers that are sitting However, Mr Casey said: tial campaign on the same houses because they’re out there waiting, watching “That’s a load of nonsense. level as a local election where blackmailing the county them move in? Not going to They are not from Romany or people play the nimby card to council into giving them happen. They are afraid of whatever.” gain votes, as we have seen so stables for their horses? them. When challenged about his often in the past. I’m sorry, there’s something KD: I have to put it to you views on Independent.ie’s “This potentially can feed seriously wrong with society. that that kind of statement into racist stereotypes and it is Kevin Doyle: That will is one that will make people reckless and irresponsible and resonate with some people worry about electing you. but you know I think it’s just ‘Racism’: David certainly not befitting anyone but it will irk others. Is that Travellers have been fighting wrong. Joyce of Human standing to be president for all the sort of statement you for rights in this country for KD: It’s a very broad Rights and Equality the people of Ireland.” could make as president? generations, be that in the statement, though. You can’t Commission Mr Collins said Mr Casey’s PC: I think the president can’t area of education or housing just say all Travellers don’t pay input had helped to “belittle make statements contrary to or other supports. taxes. the lived experience of Trav- government policy. Obviously PC: They get education. Casey: PC: Well I’m just saying the podcast ‘The Floating Voter’, ellers in terms of racism and when I am president I will not They get support. They are ‘They general perception is ... I’ll ask Mr Casey doubled down, say- exclusion”. be making any statements not paying their fair share of you a question. Where do you ing the arrival of Travellers in The interview was described contrary to government taxes in society. They live, by are not live, Kevin? an area “devastates the prices as “very concerning” by Shane policy. I’ve got about seven and large it’s acknowledged, paying KD: Where do I live? I live in of the houses”. O’Curry, director of the Euro- or eight days to knock myself outside of society. That’s why their Dublin. “Let’s call a spade a spade. pean Network Against Rac- out here. I don’t believe that they get their status. PC: You live in Dublin, right. Your house price doesn’t start ism, which has 87 member Travellers should be given But do they put in their tax fair KD: I don’t like where this going through the roof as soon organisations in Ireland.