The Taoiseach has described comments made about Jewish people by a Fine Gael councillor as “utterly wrong, absolutely offensive, entirely inappropriate”.
A disciplinary process has now been established over remarks made by Punam Rane at a Dublin City Council meeting earlier this week.
Ms Rane, who represents the Kimmage Rathmines ward, said the “USA should have taken a stance but how many of you know that the entire US economy is ruled by the Jews, is ruled by Israel. They will never be able to take a stance”.
“It will cripple the whole US economy if they take a stance. And therefore they’re afraid of taking a stance. That will never happen,” she said.
The Jewish Representative Council of Ireland has said it was appalled by the remarks.
Asked about the matter, Taoiseach Simon Harris told reporters in Washington: “The comments were utterly wrong, absolutely offensive, entirely inappropriate, and are fully condemned by me.
“I think I’ve made my views very clear with my comments there — to say any more than that would cut across that disciplinary process — but let me be clear I want it to be swift, I wanted it to be robust,” Mr Harris said ahead of a meeting with President Joe Biden.
Ms Rane has since apologised for her comments made during a motion on the Occupied Territories Bill.
