The Minister for Social Protection has said that any reasonable person would agree that some of the comments made by US presidential hopeful Donald Trump are racist.
Leo Varadkar said Mr Trump’s comments in relation to Latinos in particular are racist and also many of the things he has said are sexist, and do not show a positive attitude towards women.
But ultimately he said, it was up to American citizens to determine who their president is.
He said he knows how most Irish people would vote and added that many of the speeches made by Mr Trump were misogynistic.
Earlier, Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the Dáil that if Mr Trump's statements "are racist and dangerous, which they are, there is an alternative to vote for."
He made the comments in response to questions by Opposition TDs about Ireland's position should Mr Trump be elected US President later this year.
The Taoiseach was asked about Mr Trump's "racist, dangerous, reckless rhetoric" and asked that Ireland will not host Mr Trump if he tries to visit Ireland "in an attempt to moderate his image in the coming months".
During questions to the Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader Mícheál Martin pointed out that other governments around the world have said that they will not accept any attempt to impose a religion-based exclusion on travel for their citizens.
"Will you confirm that Ireland will fight against any attempt to discriminate against citizens based on religion?, he asked.
"I am referring to the comments made by Mr Trump in the election campaign.
"Will you confirm that any attempt to introduce discrimination such as this would be seen as a clear breach of bilateral agreements and international law? And equally no figure, irrespective of how powerful their position, would be welcome to our country if they attempted to implement such a policy? Would the Taoiseach confirm he will not host Mr Trump if he attempts to visit Ireland if he attempts to moderate his image in the coming months?"
Mr Kenny said, "I would not tolerate any situation where either religion or discrimination would apply in terms of proposals from another leader/government. In this country, we have been very free about these matters."
AAA/PBP TD Richard Boyd-Barrett also asked what will happen if Mr Trump is elected.
"Are you seriously telling us that if Trump was President, you would carry on with the policy of facilitating the US military at Shannon. Frankly, if you do do that, it beggars belief when everybody recognises what a dangerous man Trump is", he said.
The Taoiseach replied: "I cannot presume to determine what decision the American electorate are going to make to decide between Republican and Democrat contender."
"You are asking me to presume what it is we would do here in Ireland were the American people to elect Donald Trump. I am sure they would be equally be interested in North Korea and Russia and Mexico and the Muslim world if the American people were to elect him and that is their business entirely Deputy Boyd-Barrett."
The Taoiseach added: "I disagree with Candidate Hilary Clinton's view on the Norwegian air deal flying out of Cork Airport to the United States. I believe this has enormous potential to do for long-haul flights what, Ryanair did for short-haul flights."
"I do not know what the American electorate will do.
"I do not presume to know the outcome of the election. There will be two candidates for the election and it is up to the American people. Whoever the American electorate elect, the world will have to deal with their decision."
"We will have to wait for the outcome of the two conventions and the election in November", he said.
Mr Boyd-Barrett added, "Given the racist, dangerous, reckless rhetoric and policies articulated by Donald Trump. If it comes about that he becomes the President of the United States, I am asking would we continue to facilitate US Troops at Shannon airport?
"Words fail me as to how terrifying his policies are. What a dangerous person he is."
