Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern Addresses Immigration Comments
Former taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Bertie Ahern has stated he has no objection to individuals arriving in Ireland "through the visa and asylum systems" following criticism of remarks he made on immigration in a video that circulated on social media.
In the recording, Ahern appears to tell a potential voter he had "no problem" with Ukrainians entering Ireland but added:
"The ones I worry about are the Africans."
He further stated,
"We can't be taking in people from the Congo and all these places. I think there's too many from those places,"in the video.
Ahern told Irish broadcaster RTÉ that he was recorded without his knowledge and that the conversation took place "around nine or 10 days ago."
The current taoiseach, Micheál Martin, when questioned about Ahern's reported comments, described them as "not appropriate."
What Does the Video Show?
The video, which the BBC has not independently verified, is believed to have been recorded while Ahern was canvassing voters in a Dublin housing estate.
A woman who answered her door to the canvassing team inquired if a politician was available to speak with and was introduced to Ahern, who served nearly 11 years as leader of the Republic of Ireland.
The woman immediately challenged Ahern and the Fianna Fáil party regarding immigration, criticizing the "hoards of foreigners coming into our country."
She asked,
"Can we not close our borders?"
When pressed for his personal view, Ahern acknowledged that Ireland had to accept some migrants but expressed concern that
"there's too many coming in."
He added he had
"no problem with the Ukrainians"due to the
"war in their country."
However, Ahern then remarked,
"The ones I worry about are the Africans."
He continued,
"We can't be taking in people from the Congo and all these places. I think there's too many from those places."
The woman then raised concerns about Muslim migrants and Sharia Law.
Ahern responded,
"I don't worry about this generation of Muslims. The next generation, when the kids start growing up, there then that' when I think the problem will be."
He said he had shared this concern with Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan, who is responsible for migration.
Later in the recording, which runs for over five minutes, the woman informs Ahern she has recorded their conversation and intends to release it on social media.
As Ahern walks away, she criticizes him, accusing him of
"not speaking up for the Irish."
Ahern's Response to the Video
Speaking to RTÉ News, Ahern explained that the video was part of a longer discussion with the woman.
He stated,
"I have no problem with people who come here through the visa and asylum systems."
Ahern added that many African individuals had successfully gone through the system and now live and work in his local area in Dublin.
He also clarified his support for the justice minister's immigration policies, despite the woman accusing him of opposing his party colleague.
He said,
"I have said in the past the asylum process should be quicker, but I do acknowledge it has speeded up a bit in recent times."
Reactions to Ahern's Comments
Taoiseach Micheál Martin told RTÉ that it was "not appropriate" for Ahern "to be specific about any given ethnicity."
Martin stated,
"That's not, in my view, correct or proper. We've many different ethnicities in Ireland, many Irish citizens with different ethnic backgrounds, and that has to be respected."
The taoiseach added that Ireland has a "fair and robust asylum system" which has recently been reformed to establish "an efficient and accelerated process" where asylum seekers are "dealt with in a relatively timely manner."
Later, speaking in the Dáil (Irish parliament), Martin said he understood that Ahern had "resiled from those comments and says he has no issue with people who come through our asylum process."
Ahern was canvassing for a Fianna Fáil by-election candidate when the recording was made, and several other candidates have criticized his remarks.
Context on Immigration in Ireland
Immigration and the asylum system have become significant political issues in the Republic of Ireland in recent years.
The most recent census data, collected in 2022, showed that one in five Irish residents was born outside Ireland.
Since then, Ireland has accepted a large number of Ukrainian refugees as well as other nationalities, which critics argue has exacerbated a long-standing housing crisis.
The minister responsible for migration, Jim O'Callaghan, recently stated that the number of people seeking asylum in Ireland was "too high."
He noted that before the Covid-19 pandemic, approximately 3,000 to 4,000 asylum seekers arrived annually, but this number has risen to more than 18,500.
However, data indicates that overall net immigration to the Republic of Ireland fell last year to 59,700 people, compared to higher net immigration figures of 79,300 in 2024 and 77,600 in 2023.
