Businessman Peter Casey has decided to remain a candidate in the presidential election after a week of controversy over his views on Traveller culture and ethnicity.
In an article in the Sunday Independent today, Mr Casey refuses to apologise for his remarks, and attempts to open another front in his controversial campaign by describing Ireland as a “welfare-dependent state” which, he says, has led to a “sense of entitlement that’s become unaffordable”.
A spokeswoman said he would be meeting his campaign team tomorrow to decide on their strategy for the final week.
Writing in the Sunday Independent, Mr Casey said he took the decision to continue to contest the election after being inundated with messages of support.
He also said he would campaign on his belief that Ireland is a “welfare-dependent state” which has led to a “sense of entitlement that’s become unaffordable”.
Mr Casey took the decision to suspend his campaign last Friday after he became engulfed in controversy over critical statements about the Travelling Community.
The other five candidates described the comments as abhorrent and disgusting.
The latest opinion poll on the presidential election shows Mr Casey has doubled his support to 2%.
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