It took a political newbie, who has never even been elected as a councillor or contested an election before, to deliver one of the most cutting remarks during last night’s Prime Time European elections debate.
An outgoing Vice President of the European Parliament, along with two other outgoing MEPs, a former cabinet minister and a former chair of the Oireachtas EU Affairs Committee, were among the eight candidates pitted against each other for the last TV debate of the campaign.
But it was the lesser known Green candidate, Saoirse McHugh, who delivered some of the most pointed charges at Independent candidate Peter Casey.
Ahead of this campaign there was a view that as Mr Casey had come second in last year’s Presidential election and garnered a massive 342,000 votes, he might just "capture the public imagination" again.
Last night he came under significant pressure when challenged on some of his statements.
Not alone, the Green Party candidate Ms McHugh took issue with Mr Casey’s comments about migrants.
Mr Casey said we have a skills shortage but we cannot bring in "welfare tourists’ as we cannot afford them.
He said with direct provision we should give people who are legal a warm Irish welcome and if they are not legal they should not be allowed to stay.
He said that if they are genuine refugees coming from war torn countries they should be welcomed.
But the Green candidate warned that there are "real repercussions" to what Mr Casey is saying and suggested he "go on Dancing with the
Stars, if you want the attention."
Ms McHugh said "millionaires scapegoating migrants is an old trope and it is boring."
She said that she has a problem with platforming "incoherent fear-mongering views. It looks like it’s just for attention Peter. You haven’t an idea what you are talking about. You are an economic migrant yourself."
The candidate from Achill Island in Mayo was not the only candidate to take issue with Mr Casey’s comments
Labour candidate Dominic Hannigan, the former chair of the Oireachtas EU Affairs committee, warned it is not fair to castigate migrants and blame migrants for contributing to the housing crisis, as it is a problem caused by successive governments.
Outgoing EU Parliament Vice President and Fine Gael candidate, Mairead McGuinness said that unlike the campaign five years ago there is a shortage of labour and Mr Casey is "out of touch".
Also calling out Mr Casey, Independent Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan said people who arrive here are not automatically entitled to social welfare payments in Ireland for the first three months they are here.
Sinn Féin candidate Matt Carthy said that "what Peter is doing is exploiting very real concerns of rural communities who don’t have services."
Fianna Fáil candidate and former agriculture minister Brendan Smith was also critical of Peter Casey’s comments about "freeloaders".
But Mr Casey said that 200,000 people move to the UK every year and questioned where they would go after Brexit.
He rejected the charge that he is scaremongering and said the scariest thing happening is that Ireland has not had a proper discussion on migration.
People Before Profit candidate Cyril Brennan said Ireland had benefitted from becoming a multi-cultural society.
Ms McHugh also accused Mr Casey of "inventing" the argument.
The businessman faced criticism too for the various different different positions he has taken on Brexit.
He was asked by debate host David McCullagh: "In April 2015 you suggested we should leave the EU if Britain left, then you suggested we should stay and now you are saying we should think about it?"
Mr Casey said: "We should get whatever deal Britain gets. That's the deal we need to get...If Britain leaves we have to get exactly the same deal that Britain gets."
Asked if he is talking about if we are to leave the EU, he replied "yes".
Mr Smith cited a tweet from Mr Casey the day after the 2016 Brexit referendum where he said "a great day for Britain, it will even be a better one for Ireland , next the Euro".
He said that every analysis shows clearly that the area most adversely affected by the Brexit would be the Border, Midlands and East area.
Mr Casey said he said at the time that it was time to have a discussion.
Mr Hannigan warned that Mr Casey keeps calling for discussions on various issues but he never says what he means by that.
Ms McGuinness said Mr Casey should realise the fishermen in Killybegs in Donegal are suffering because of Brexit and "it is extremely reckless of anybody who wants to serve in public office."
On Friday the electorate will decide if one of the most controversial election candidates of recent times is to serve in public office.
