FF rejects remarks by councillor on loans to Travellers

Fianna Fail has distanced itself from comments by a party councillor in Co Kerry, who said Traveller caravans purchased under a local authority loan scheme should be fitted with tracking devices to ensure their owners did not default on repayments.

A Travellers' spokesman described as "very disturbing" this and other remarks by Mr Michael Cahill, who is also chairman of the Southern Health Board, made during an interview yesterday with Radio Kerry.

Mr Cahill told the station the loan scheme, which will advance sums of up to £5,000 repayable over five years, would be abused by Travellers. He added: "It's in their nature to be moving all the time. It's in their nature to cause trouble. It's in their nature to steal, quite simply . . . It's in their nature to do the system."

A Fianna Fail spokesman last night said that if the reported comments were accurate, the party "would strongly disapprove". He added: "Fianna Fail has promoted positive policies for Travellers in Opposition and now in Government with a series of initiatives."

But Mr Martin Collins, a community development worker with Pavee Point Travellers' Centre, said political parties needed to "come down heavy and impose sanctions" in cases where "what can only be described as racist opinions are being articulated . . . Politicians are being led by prejudice on the street and in some cases colluding with it, on the basis that there are no votes in Travellers or refugees".

Mr Collins said he had helped formulate proposals for the caravan loan scheme, which also provides for grants to first-time buyers of up to £500. The scheme was designed to do for Travellers what successive Government policies had done for settled home buyers. Like any loan scheme, it had safeguards, he said. Loans would be deducted at source, from wages or welfare payments.

Mr Cahill last night denied his comments were racist and suggested his remark about Travellers stealing had been "put into my mouth". But he added: "I was speaking the truth and the truth hurts. The scheme is open to abuse and it will be abused."

Radio Kerry reported a high number of phone calls, 60 per cent supporting the councillor.