GARDAI have started an investigation into remarks by a Waterford councillor who said that travellers should be "put out" of the county, by people with shotguns "at the ready".
The Fianna Fail councillor, Mr Paddy Kenneally, told a meeting of Waterford County Council on Tuesday: "The sooner the shotguns are at the ready and these travelling people are put out of the county the better. They are not our people."
Insp Michael Blake of Dungarvan Garda station confirmed that an investigation under incitement to hatred legislation was under way. It is understood that the investigation was not started in response to a specific complaint, but was initiated by the Garda.
The investigation is only the second under the legislation.
The first - into a newspaper article on travellers by a columnist, Ms Mary Ellen Synon - has been completed and a file on the case has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Explaining his remarks after the council meeting, Mr Kenneally said: "People in Dungarvan don't want to have to go through another summer like last year with the robbing. Rural people could not risk leaving their homes unattended."
Fianna Fail has said it will request a "full report" from its organisation in Waterford on Mr Kenneally's remarks, although the party initially said it had decided not to discipline him. The deputy leader, Ms Mary O'Rourke, said the matter would be dealt with quickly.
The investigation will consist, at the outset, of questioning people who were at the meeting.