Fine Gael will not take action against mayor

ENDA KENNY said Fine Gael will not be taking any action against Limerick mayor Kevin Kiely after his comments about deporting jobless non-Irish people.

The party leader said he accepted the apology issued by Mayor Kiely.

“He has been big enough and strong enough to withdraw this unreservedly and there the matter ends,” Mr Kenny said.

He was in Limerick with front bench members to set out the Fine Gael position on the economy with business leaders from the mid-west.

Mr Kenny said he also discussed, with Mayor Kiely, a number of major issues affecting Limerick.

“I think the mayor is focused on his duties as mayor. I think he has been doing a good job for the city.”

Mr Kenny said, in regard to immigrant matters, there must be a managed system that was fair for the Irish and the immigrant worker.

“People who work in Ireland from countries of the European Union have contributed greatly to the economy; have contributed greatly to the development of our own country, and as members of the union they have reciprocal rights as Irish people have in other countries of the EU.”

Mayor Kiely sparked public outrage last week when he said anybody living here from abroad who can’t pay for themselves should be deported. Many groups including the Irish Polish Association condemned his remarks.

The mayor apologised saying it was not his intention to cause any offence to EU nationals.

He said: “I apologise if I have done so and I unreservedly withdraw my initial remarks. In my comments on foreign nationals receiving social welfare payments, I was specifically referring to those individuals who travel to Ireland with the aim of taking advantage of our social welfare system.”