An activist for Travellers has accused RTE Prime Time of 'normalising racism' after a poll for Claire Byrne Live asked some controversial questions.
Rose Marie Maughan, human rights activist and Accommodation Policy officer with the Irish Traveller Movement, took to Twitter to blast the investigative show on Monday evening.
The poll carried out for Claire Byrne Live by Amárach Research asked members of the public such questions as 'Would you be happy to have a Traveller accommodation site situated within a mile of your home?' and 'Are there any Travellers in your social circle?'
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Almost 50% of Irish people would not be happy to live near a Traveller halting site, according to the data.
While Ms Maughan did praise the fact that a "diverse mix from our community be given such a massive platform", the poll associated with the show left her furious.
She wrote: "While we say as a country we are a land of a 1,000 welcomes ? Why the need for this survey in 2022? Can all our allies please lodge official complaints regarding this poll normalising Traveller racism in 2022?
"Still very hurt that a public representative with anti Traveller sentiments was given a platform on #cblive on #AntiRacismDay where Travellers were speaking about their lived experience of racism."
Ms Maughan also responded when people claimed the poll was not normalising racism.
She wrote: "Lots of replies saying the #cblive poll was not normalising racism towards Travellers.
"Would you be happy to have Germans live within a mile of your home? See the issue now ? We know that question would never be asked about any other community. So why is it ok for us ?"
A spokesperson for RTÉ said: "In the context of decades long discrimination against members of the Travelling Community, asking the question whether people would be happy to have Traveller accommodation within a mile of their home is not racism: rather, the question sought to establish what levels of residual discrimination might still exist.
"The poll, and article linked, highlighted the fact that there are still significant issues with regards public attitudes towards providing accommodation for the Travelling community.
"RTÉ stands over the survey and the intent behind the questions, and we also stand over the Claire Byrne Live show last Monday which provided a platform for members of the Travelling Community to publicly outline the issues and challenges they face as a community. "
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