Two formal complaints have been made to gardai over remarks about Travellers made some months ago by Mr Michael Cahill, chairman of the Southern Health Board and a Kerry county councillor.
In a live interview in March on Radio Kerry in relation to loans for Travellers to buy caravans, Mr Cahill, of Fianna Fail, said it was in Travellers' "nature" to steal, to cause trouble, and "to try and do the system." He later apologised for any offence caused to the Travelling community.
But last week two people, one a Traveller and one a professional working with Travellers, made statements to gardai at Anglesea Street Station in Cork. The statements have been forwarded to Tralee gardai.
A Cork Traveller, Mr Martin Kiely, said Mr Cahill's comments over the air were "very damaging." And Mr David McCarthy, acting project co-ordinator with the Traveller Visibility Group in Cork, said he made the complaint as an individual under the Incitement to Hatred Act.
"People, especially public representatives, should not be allowed get away with saying things like that about any group. These statements are very dangerous," Mr McCarthy said.
At the time of the remarks he called for Mr Cahill's resignation. Yesterday he said: "It's extraordinary and beyond belief that Councillor Cahill should be allowed to remain in that position. There's a responsibility on the part of the State that all people are allowed live with confidence in society, even if they are a bit different."
Mr McCarthy said he made the statement to gardai "fully in the knowledge I was taking a serious action," and in the hope that the matter would be taken to the DPP.
Last night Mr Cahill said he had had no formal communication on the matter and he did not wish to comment.
In 1999 a Mayo county councillor, Mr John Flannery of Fine Gael, was acquitted of inciting hatred towards Travellers at Galway District Court.