As bad as he is - Plan to ban Trump visit

THERE is a growing consensus among a motley crew of Irish politicians and trade unions to bar the US presidential candidate Donald Trump from entering Ireland on a planned trip by him later this month.

The Anti Austerity Alliance-People Before Profit, Green Party, anti-racism, anti-sexism, Muslim, and trade union groups have aligned to prevent him coming here.

The movement is being led by the Green Party — proving that they are green in more ways than one. It is a ridiculous notion and, ironically, is akin to Mr Trump’s own agenda to prevent Mexicans from entering the US. Moreover, such intolerance ill becomes the land of Céad Míle Fáilte.

Voltaire, the 18th century French writer and humanitarian, is attributed with declaring: “I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” We should welcome Mr Trump in his capacity as the possible next US president and then tell him in no uncertain terms what we think of his vile, racist remarks. Banning him would make us as bad and as intolerant as he is.