Presidential hopeful Peter Casey says travellers get unfair financial benefits by having ethnic status.
He made the claims during last night’s television debate between all the candidates.
Mr Casey’s remarks sparked criticism from Senator Joan Freeman:
“We’re the ones who are excluding them – and you know Peter if you weren’t being racist – and if you’re weren’t saying this terrible thing….” but Peter Casey responded: “What Terrible thing did I say? I have nothing to apologise for….”
While Sinn Féin candidate Liadh Ní Riada admitted she takes home €47,000 a year after tax – and not the average industrial wage she claimed to take.
The MEP had said she took the average industrial wage in order to understand how ordinary people live.
However Liadh Ní Riada admitted that 47,000 was a net figure:
“I pay €40,000 in tax, in Brussels and here, I take €60,000 take home pay and out of that I take €47,000 yeah…“
