Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan has today defended his decision to send a letter on behalf of his constituents about a Traveller family.
The letter, details of which were published in the Irish Daily Mail, was sent by Mr Hogan to his constituents assuring them that a Traveller family would not be allowed to move into their area.
The McCarthy family were later granted the house in the townland of Bonnettstown in Co Kilkenny despite Mr Hogan's letter.
Mr Hogan has been severely criticised for the letter but today claimed he was entitled to send it.
The Minister denied his letter was in any way discriminatory and said he acted in good faith in responding to the concerns of local people and rejected suggestions he had put pressure on the local authority not to house the McCarthy family.
"I brought (the letter) in good faith on behalf of the local people the concerns they had. The decisions were made by the country manager and the director of housing, and I didn't ask them to change the decision," he said.
"If families make representations to me, as a local deputy I have to respond
and I have to give that information which they may not have been aware of in the
local authority," he added.
Earlier today, an attempt by Sinn Féin TDs to raise the issue in the Dáil was ruled out of order by the Ceann Comhairle.
Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Dessie Ellis said Mr Hogan should be working to providing accommodation rather than obstructing access to it.
Fianna Fáil's communities spokesman, Éamon Ó Cuív, said the Minister needed to make a full statement on the issue.
“At face value, this is a very serious issue. A Government Minister personally interfering in a housing allocation process to prevent a Traveller family being housed on the basis of them being Travellers would be an extraordinary abuse of power. It would also be illegal under the terms of Equality legislation and the Housing Act," he said.
The Green Party said Mr Hogan's intervention was "wholly inappropriate".
"Minister Hogan should know better and not play into the racist sentiment that exists towards the Traveller community among his colleagues. This is a disgraceful and completely inappropriate action by Minister Hogan," said Green Party environment spokesman Cllr Malcolm Noonan.
The Irish Traveller Movement said it was concerned by the letter and would welcome clarification from Mr Hogan on the matter.
Pavee Point said it was dismayed at the comments attributed to Mr Hogan.
"We believe all politicians and in particular a Minister for the Environment who is responsible for housing and accommodation, including for Travellers, need to show leadership and not to pander to prejudice against the Traveller community," it said.
"This family have been waiting for over four years for housing. The letter sent round to the (now) neighbours of the McCarthy Family will not assist their integration into their new home, it would not be tolerated for any other family in similar circumstances," the group added.
