Latest: A spokesperson for Traveller rights group Pavee Point has said that comments made by presidential candidate Peter Casey were distrubing and disappointing.
Martin Collins has called on Mr Casey to step down after saying that Travellers should not be recognised as an ethnic minority and describing them as "basically people that are camping on somebody else's land".
Speaking to Sean O'Rourke on RTÉ Radio 1 this morning, Mr Collins said: "His comments are not befitting of any person who is a candidate in the election for president of office."
"You're meant to be a president for all the people, you are meant to be inclusive."
Mr Collins said that the statements made by the presidential hopeful are bordering on racism.
"This is a desperate measure coming from a desperate man who is doing really really poorly in the polls," said Mr Collins.
"He is ill-informed, ill-advised, his comments are reckless."
Even if Mr Casey were to withdraw his comments, Mr Collins believes that he should step down from the campaign.
"I think at this stage my view and the view of my community is that comments from such a person is not befitting of a person holding presidential office and therefore on that basis we would call for him to withdraw from this election."
You can listen to the full interview with Marin Collins here.
Gavin Duffy brands Peter Casey Traveller comments 'reckless and inflammatory'
Presidential candidate Gavin Duffy has responded to comments Peter Casey made about Travellers.
Mr Casey said Travellers should not be recognised as an ethnic minority.
Speaking this morning, Mr Duffy said that the comments deeply concerned him calling them "reckless and inflammatory".
He said that Mr Casey should withdraw the comments also said that they had no place in a presidential campaign.
"They reach back into another era which I believed we, as a society and a community, have put well behind us," said Mr Duffy.
"Travellers face many challenges in life, not least in developing and sustaining understanding and acceptance with the settled community.
"Such comments only pitch us back into a time and a dark place that we have long ago left behind. I would ask Mr Casey to withdraw his comments."
Among the comments made by Peter Casey was the claim that the travelling community don't pay their fair share of taxes.
"They get education, they get support and they are not paying their fair share of taxes in society," said Mr Casey.
"They live, by and large it's acknowleged, outside of society. That's why they get their status but, you know, did they put in their tax returns?
"Did they pay their taxes? I think it's just wrong."
Traveller advocacy group Pavee Point have described his comments as "ill informed and offensive" and called for Mr Casey to drop out of the presidential race.
Earlier: Calls for Peter Casey to withdraw from Áras race after Traveller comments
Calls are being made on Peter Casey to withdraw from the race to be Ireland's next President over comments he made about Travellers.
Mr Casey said Travellers should not be recognised as an ethnic minority.
Pavee Point has described the comments as grossly insulting and offensive and have called on him to withdraw from the race for the Áras.
Peter Casey made the comments while speaking to the Indepdent.ie's podcast 'The Floating' Voter.
"I don't believe that Travellers should be given special status, why should they be given status over and above yourself or myself," said Mr Casey.
He said that it is "nonsense" that Travellers are viewed as a minority ethnicity saying "they're not Romany or whatever".
He went on to describe Travellers as "basically people that are camping on somebody else's land".
Digital Desk
