McDowell remarks ‘bordering on the racist’

MICHAEL McDowell came under pressure to apologise for two separate sets of remarks yesterday.

The Labour Party said it was "beyond the bounds of propriety" for Mr McDowell to compare Fine Gael deputy leader Richard Bruton to Nazi propagandist, Joseph Goebbels.

And the Green Party is still seeking an apology for comments made by Mr McDowell a fortnight ago which linked party chairman John Gormley to the Dublin rioters.

During the riots, the windows of the Progressive Democrats' city centre office were smashed.

In the Dáil last Thursday, Mr McDowell claimed his party's office was "ransacked by a group of Deputy Gormley's type of people".

Mr Gormley immediately called on Mr McDowell to apologise, saying he had abused Dáil privilege. But instead, Mr McDowell continued: "I am merely saying that the party and viewpoint with which most people, including me, would most closely associated the anoraked group which descended on my party's offices would be the deputy's there was muesli in the air and open-toed sandals on the street."

The Green Party will this week table a motion calling on Mr McDowell to withdraw the remarks. The motion reads: "That Dáil Éireann, in view of the outrageous remarks made by Minister McDowell ... notes that the minister's behaviour was totally unbecoming for a member of this House and calls on him to withdraw the remarks forthwith."

Meanwhile, Labour is insisting that Mr McDowell apologise for his remarks about Mr Bruton.

"Comparing Richard Bruton, a democratically-elected Dáil deputy, to Hitler's leading propagandist is beyond the bounds of propriety," said Labour justice spokesman Joe Costello.

"He should withdraw them. The comments are bordering on the racist."