A Fine Gael TD has been slammed by the public for the words he used to describe O'Connell Street during a tourism debate in the Dáil.
Deputy Paul Kehoe, who represents Wexford, was contributing to a discussion on the National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill's second stage.
It deals with the further allocation of capital funds to the National Tourism Development Authority, Fáilte Ireland to support the tourism industry in the latter half of 2022.
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin began proceedings and was followed by a number of TDs with their own contributions.
Having spoken about the VAT rate in tourism causing hotels to hike prices, An Bord Pleanála and the Rosslare-Waterford greenway, Deputy Kehoe turned his attention to the capital city and it's main street.
He said: "I am also delighted that "Prime Time" is going to do a programme on O'Connell Street this week.
"As an Irish person, it is a street I am ashamed of. It is full of druggies, crime, antisocial behaviour, robberies, takeaways and alcohol. This is the main street in our national capital. If Dublin City Council does not address what is happening on O'Connell Street, and the streets surrounding it, then I would not send a tourist there because I would be ashamed for them to see what is down that street."
Newstalk's Seán Defoe shared a clip of the statement - and people were less than impressed with his use of the term 'druggies'.
Deputy Kehoe's fellow TD Paul Murphy wrote: "A horrendous way to talk about people suffering from drug addiction.
Another angry user chimed in with: "Expecting O'Connell Street and Dublin City Centre to be sparkly and appealing to tourists, while trivialising the systemic neglect that has prevent them from being so. Shameful."
A third said: "He should be ‘absolutely ashamed’ at his lack of awareness & understanding of addiction. What awful terminology & such an ignorant statement from an elected representative but not surprised."
A fourth agreed, writing: "For a public representative to refer to chronically addicted people as druggies in our Parliament is both derogatory and demeaning and shows a serious lack of empathy & understanding of the whole area around addiction. Disappointing is an understatement"
Others called on Frank Feighan, the Minister of State for Public Health, Well Being and the National Drugs Strategy, to intervene, writing: "Deplorable stigmatising language from TDs should be responded to and challenged by @FrankFeighan as the minister responsible for nat’l drugs strategy that boasts a health led approach and an end to stigma. It starts at state level. Tired of this carry on."
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