Anti-immigrant or racist political rhetoric ‘must not go unchecked’

An example needs to be made of politicians who make negative comments about immigrants if Ireland is to avoid going down a route of an “accepted rhetoric or racism”, Integration Ireland has warned.

Chief executive Killian Forde said it seemed politicians were increasingly speaking out about foreign people in Ireland, and expressed concern that Fine Gael councillor Darren Scully has not yet been expelled from the party.

Last November, Mr Scully was forced to resign as mayor of Naas, after saying he would no longer deal with, as he described them, bad-mannered, aggressive, black Africans. The party has not taken any decisive action.