Hayes admits he got it wrong for using ‘segregation’ word

A FAVOURITE to take over as Fine Gael’s next leader apologised last night after sparking a race row by using the “wrong and ridiculous” word — “segregation”.

However, the party’s education spokesman, Brian Hayes, said his “clumsy” language had been seized on by “politically correct opportunists” and should not be allowed to obscure the substance of his argument.

Mr Hayes, a front-runner with bookies to succeed Enda Kenny as leader of the opposition, sparked controversy when he said immigrant children with poor English should be “segregated” from other school pupils.

“I should not have used the word ‘segregation’. It was wrong and clumsy, and it is my fault and I should have realised what the reaction would be.

“I should not have used the ridiculous word I did, and apologise to anyone who was offended by it.

“But this should not take away from the substance of what I said. It is not fair on the pupils coming into our schools — some of whom do not have a word of English and cannot even write their names — or the teachers who want to help them and other pupils with good English,” he said.

The FG frontbencher hit out at Fianna Fáil Minister of State Martin Mansergh who said Mr Hayes’ comments evoked images of racial segregation.

“Opportunistic politicians should not jump on the bandwagon.

“Please debate the issue rather than the relevance or irrelevance of a word,” Mr Hayes said.

“I’m glad this has started a national debate on the matter and we should be able to raise sensitive issues without being called a racist. We need to celebrate the many positive things about multi-culturalism and also look at some of the challenges as well without an unelected politically correct elite moving in on it,” added Mr Hayes.

A number of teaching unions and immigrant support organisations condemned Mr Hayes’ original comments, however the ASTI called for “immersion classes” for pupils with poor English for the first few weeks of school.