Comments by a Fine Gael byelection candidate about migrants, including that the Islamic State (Isis) was “a big part of the migrant population”, were based on “rumours and misinformation”, the Minister for Justice has said. He said Ms Murphy had acknowledged that her statements on asylum seekers and refugees were not based on fact. Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said the comments were “Verona Murphy’s comments are “offensive and quite dangerous as they have no basis in fact whatsoever”. “Fine Gael seem to be playing the populist card and this has no place in Irish politics,” he said. Labour leader Brendan Howlin called on Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to disassociate himself and the Fine Gael party from them.

Source: The Irish Times November 19, 2019 06:41 UTC