Leo Varadkar pressured to condemn ‘racist’ remarks made by Fine Gael councillor

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has been urged to condemn “racist” comments made by a Fine Gael councillor.

Limerick councillor Stephen Keary, who is the father-in-law of junior minister Patrick O’Donovan, has defended comments in which he suggested welfare recipients from Eastern Europe see Ireland as “easy pickings”.

Mr Keary, who is due to be elected Limerick’s mayor as part of a voting pact his party holds with Fianna Fáil, said immigrants are the reason behind a substantial rise in numbers on social housing lists and hospital waiting lists in recent years.