The Environment Minister is defending his decision to make representations over the allocation of a house to members of the Traveller community.
Phil Hogan sent a letter to his constituents last May assuring them that the McCarthy family would not be provided with a home in Co. Kilkenny.
Minister Hogan is rejecting that the move was inappropriate saying that he was only passing on information about anti-social behaviour.
A copy of the letter sent out was printed in the Irish Daily Mail today.
Despite the intervention by the Environment Minister the family was given a house subject he says to special conditions on their tenancy.
Fianna Fail is branding the move as ‘racist’ and ‘an abuse of power’ while Sinn Fein says it amounts to discrimination against Travellers.
However Minister Hogan says he resents and regrets that perception.
Speaking to reporter at the Ploughing Championships he is insisting he was only passing on concerns he received from constituents.
Related stories
href="http://www.newstalk.ie/2012/news/phil-hogan-hangs-up-on-interview-about-traveller-housing/">Phil Hogan hangs up on interview about Traveller housing
href="http://www.newstalk.ie/2012/news/top55-traveller-rights-group-calls-for-judge-to-resign/">[Top5@5] Traveller rights group calls for judge to resign
href="http://www.newstalk.ie/2012/news/travellor-family-sentenced-over-servitude-conviction/">Traveller family sentenced over servitude conviction
