O’Dea given promise ban on travellers would be lifted

A spokesperson for Willie O’Dea is insisting that the Junior Minister was given assurances from publicans that the ban on serving travellers was lifted.

Pub owners in Westport, however, are continuing to refuse members of the travelling community.

It was thought the row between publicans and travellers was resolved following separate meetings with Minister of State, Willie O’Dea, yesterday.

This latest move is likely to cause anger in the travelling community and in Minister O’Dea’s office.

A spokesperson for Mr O’Dea said the Minister was given an undertaking yesterday by the Vintners Federation that the threat of a blanket ban on travellers was lifted.

The spokesperson went onto say it is a contradiction by the Vintners and illegal if the refusal to serve travellers remains in Westport.