Minister accused of playing the race card

ON Oireachtas Report (RTÉ 1, June 8), Deputy Jim O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, about the Government’s policy on deportation of non-nationals who have served prison sentences for a criminal offence committed in Ireland.

I was outraged to hear him accuse Mr O’Keeffe of xenophobia.

That was how it all began in England and France. Regardless of how genuine the query about immigration policy, just play the race card and everyone run for cover.