Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald 'appalled' by Donald Trump's 'disturbing' remarks

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has warned Donald Trump's controversial comments about groping women "raise serious questions about his fitness or eligibility to be president of the US", writes Fiachra Ó Cionnaith, Political Correspondent.

The long-time advocate of women's rights and former chair of the National Women's Council drew the conclusion after a weekend in which the troubled tycoon was forced to apologise after a leaked decade-old TV recording heard him joking about sexually assaulting women.

Speaking to reporters before she opened the Legal Aid Board's first co-located law centre and family mediation office in central Dublin, Minister Fitzgerald said she has been "appalled" by the "deeply disturbing" remarks.

And while Mr Trump's supporters insisted there is no possibility of him stepping out of the race after the second US presidential debate took place early this morning, Minister Fitzgerald said the revelation means there is now a genuine question over whether the businessman can be a candidate to replace Barack Obama.

"I think it's horrific in what has been said in relation to women, and that celebrity is some kind of excuse for sexual assault," she said.

"I think they're horrendous comments and, you know, I think it's very disturbing what has been said in relation to the portrayal of women, the attitude to women. I find it deeply disturbing.

"I find what he said deeply disturbing in relation to the attitude it portrays, the kind of messages it gives out to society at large, the kind of acceptance he describes as banter.

"Locker room banter? Well, actually, I think if locker room banter comes out as an excuse for sexual assault of women it is particularly disturbing, and I would consider it a major issue in terms of the candidacy for anyone to be president of the US," she said.

Asked if she agrees with Taoiseach Enda Kenny's summer comments about Mr Trump, in which her party leader said the Republican candidate is "racist and dangerous", she said while the vote is up to US citizens, she is deeply concerned about what is happening on the other side of the Atlantic.

"What I would say is that, there's another country making its decision about their president, at the end of the day its up to the voters in that country," she said.

"But I certainly think the kind of views that were expressed by him raise serious questions about his fitness or eligibility to be president of the US, and I would be deeply concerned."

Update (3.22pm): Former Tánaiste Joan Burton has said that she would like to see the first female president of the United States.

The Labour TD Joan Burton said that one important element was missing from last night’s debate.

“What I think has now happened, and I think this could be significant in the next month, nobody last night had any surprise anymore that here’s a woman running to be President of the United States,” she said.

She added: “Personally, I’d like to see the first woman President of the United States.”