Peter Casey denies he is a racist as he considers his future in presidential race
It comes as Derry-born Mr Casey said he will take the weekend to consider if he will continue in the race for the Áras.
Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One programme, Mr Casey said that he would make a decision on Monday about whether or not to continue his campaign after talking to his family and advisors.
He said he would not wish to be “elected on this platform” that “it’s not what he is about”.
He said he had been accused of being a racist and “this is not what his campaign is about”.
Mr Casey said had not been aware that Travellers had been given special status as an ethnic minority and was “surprised beyond belief” at the reaction to his comments.
He said if he stepped down he will ask people not to vote for him, adding that Joan Freeman would be his preferred choice of the other candidates.
He said he was pointing out the absurdity “of these amazing houses sitting there empty” while people looked for lands for their horses.
He said he was so “conscious of bigotry” having grown up in Derry and “did not have a racist bone in his body”.
Mr Casey said if he had known it was going to come this way he would not have run.
“I do not want the people of Ireland to elect me as President of Ireland just based on one statement I made.”
Mr Casey announced he was considering withdrawing from the presidential race in a statement this morning.
He said he wants to be of service and make a real difference.
“I have the expertise and ability to be an influencer. I want to connect people, at home and abroad.
“I know that my world experience and global views will make me a uniquely suitable candidate for president of Ireland – with drive, ability and energy,” he said.
Mr Casey’s name will be on the Presidential Election ballot paper, even if he should decide to withdraw from the race.
A spokesman from the Department of Local Government said that the last date for removing a candidate’s name from the ballot paper was 26 September.
Earlier this week Mr Casey made controversial comments about the Travelling community.
Peter Casey, Liadh Ní Riada, Joan Freeman and Gavin Duffy took part in recent debate on RTE TV
Mr Casey has claimed this is because the families are demanding that the council provide stables for their horses, something he described as “blackmail”.
On the ‘Floating Voter’ Podcast on the Independent.ie website earlier this week, Mr Casey claimed that the State’s recognition of the Travelling community as an ethnic minority was “a load of nonsense”.
He also described Travellers as “basically people that are camping on someone else’s land” and asserted that they were “not paying their fair share of taxes in society”.
Yesterday Mr Casey visited Cabragh Bridge saying he wanted to highlight the fact that there are people homeless in Dublin while the six houses in Thurles are empty.
He left Cabragh Bridge without speaking to members of the Travelling community nearby.
There was a large garda presence in the area during the visit.
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