Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has been criticised over his comment likening Sinn Fein’s policies to "politics for slow learners".
The Fine Gael leader made the remark in an interview with The Irish Examiner and was last night standing over his comment in the face of growing anger. Disability group Access for All Ireland said they were dismayed to read the statement – which was published in a national newspaper on Saturday.
They tweeted: "This is a horrible ableist slur to use to denigrate anyone. Using anyone’s disability – whether physical or intellectual – as a put down impacts us all in the disabled community.
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"Once again we are the butt of the joke, shame on you!" They added in a reply to supporters: "The days of us and our community hiding in the shadows afraid to speak up and call it out are over.
"We are filled with rage today off the back of this statement so we will use that rage to call this out and show people how unacceptable this is. Shame on him not us."
Mr Varadkar was replying to a question about a coalition with Sinn Fein, insisting he would not go into government with Mary Lou McDonald’s party. He said: "Watching Sinn Féin, it is like politics for slow learners sometimes.
"I think it was Seamus Mallon who famously described the Good Friday Agreement as ‘Sunningdale for slow learners’ because Sinn Féin finally accepted democracy and peace and power sharing and consent."
A spokesman for the Taoiseach said it was clear he was referencing the remark made by SDLP politician Mallon in 1997 in reference to failed negotiations with Edward Heath 20 years earlier.
The spokesman told The Sunday Mirror: "The Taoiseach was clearly using the well-known and oft-quoted remark of Seamus Mallon that the Agreement was Sunningdale for slow learners." But the storm raged on last night as people objected to Mr Varadkar’s choice of words.
We Are LGBTQPlus wrote: "Taoiseach, your ableist comment is just quite disappointing, yet unsurprising.
"As a person, you have shown time and again your complete lack of empathy, lack of compassion and lack of respect on many, many occasions. This comment says more about you than anyone else."
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