Arcadia
30-10-2008, 09:57 AM
Lenihan says claims of Nazi salute in Dail just 'nonsense'
Minister for Integration or Prince Phillip in disguise ?
Thursday October 30 2008
INTEGRATION Minister Conor Lenihan was last night embroiled in a fresh row after making an alleged fascist salute.
Mr Lenihan is responsible for immigrant issues, and was engaged in controversy three years ago over a "kebabs" remarks in reference to Turkish workers.
Fine Gael claimed Mr Lenihan made a Nazi salute across the floor of the Dail last night at the party's frontbench spokesman Leo Varadkar.
When he put up his hand, the Mr Lenihan appeared to say: "Heil Leo". But Mr Lenihan said he just "waved" at Mr Varadkar and it was not a Nazi salute.
"No, it definitely was not. That's complete nonsense," he said.
Although he says he was not performing a fascist salute, Mr Lenihan said he was making the point that Mr Varadkar was pursuing fascist policies.
"Leo Varadkar advocates policies advocated by the British fascist party," he said.
Mr Lenihan said Fine Gael's proposal to repatriate foreign workers was a policy of the BNP in Britain.
Fine Gael colleagues of Mr Varadkar, Simon Coveney and Fergus O'Dowd, demanded Mr Lenihan withdraw the salute and the fascist allegations.
Their objections were overruled by Leas Ceann Comhairle Brendan Howlin.
But Mr Varadkar was less perturbed by the incident as he laughed off Mr Lenihan's actions.
"A kebab and a valium and he'll be fine," he said.
Mr Lenihan had to apologise three years ago for remarks he made about Turks.
As the Minister for Overseas Aid, Mr Lenihan told then Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins, who was campaigning for Turkish construction workers at the time, to "stick with the kebabs".
Minister for Integration or Prince Phillip in disguise ?
Thursday October 30 2008
INTEGRATION Minister Conor Lenihan was last night embroiled in a fresh row after making an alleged fascist salute.
Mr Lenihan is responsible for immigrant issues, and was engaged in controversy three years ago over a "kebabs" remarks in reference to Turkish workers.
Fine Gael claimed Mr Lenihan made a Nazi salute across the floor of the Dail last night at the party's frontbench spokesman Leo Varadkar.
When he put up his hand, the Mr Lenihan appeared to say: "Heil Leo". But Mr Lenihan said he just "waved" at Mr Varadkar and it was not a Nazi salute.
"No, it definitely was not. That's complete nonsense," he said.
Although he says he was not performing a fascist salute, Mr Lenihan said he was making the point that Mr Varadkar was pursuing fascist policies.
"Leo Varadkar advocates policies advocated by the British fascist party," he said.
Mr Lenihan said Fine Gael's proposal to repatriate foreign workers was a policy of the BNP in Britain.
Fine Gael colleagues of Mr Varadkar, Simon Coveney and Fergus O'Dowd, demanded Mr Lenihan withdraw the salute and the fascist allegations.
Their objections were overruled by Leas Ceann Comhairle Brendan Howlin.
But Mr Varadkar was less perturbed by the incident as he laughed off Mr Lenihan's actions.
"A kebab and a valium and he'll be fine," he said.
Mr Lenihan had to apologise three years ago for remarks he made about Turks.
As the Minister for Overseas Aid, Mr Lenihan told then Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins, who was campaigning for Turkish construction workers at the time, to "stick with the kebabs".