A senior member of Ennis Town Council has called for social welfare entitlements to be withdrawn from any member of the Traveller community convicted of being involved in feuds.
Frankie Neylon (Ind) backed a call from Paul O’Shea (Labour) on the issue.
Mr Neylon told the council’s April meeting that the relevant offenders “drive around in their new cars and salute you with their Prada coats on them and what have you . . . They should be hit in the pocket.”
Johnny Flynn (FG) said some in the Traveller community “seem to be able to exhibit extraordinary wealth, but don’t seem to be able to identify the sources of their income”.
A motion tabled by Mr O’Shea sought a national conference to take place to debate the issue. However, Mr Neylon cautioned against “Ennis being out front again” on Traveller issues, and no vote was taken.
Martin Collins, the assistant director of the Traveller representative organisation Pavee Point, described the councillors’ comments as “totally unhelpful and have the potential to incite hatred and are dangerous”.
He added: “I don’t know of any Traveller who wears Prada, but the insinuation there is that the wealth talked about was got illegally. If that is their belief, evidence should be provided to the gardaí.” Mr Collins said councillors should be more focused on providing solutions.