Taoiseach says Bertie Ahern comments on immigration were ‘not appropriate’

Micheál Martin says Ireland must respect people of all ethnic backgrounds following controversy over Bertie Ahern remarks

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said it is “not appropriate” or “proper” to make remarks about specific ethnicities following comments made by former Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern.

A video shared online earlier this week showed Mr Ahern speaking to a woman on a doorstep in Dublin Central about immigration during a by-election canvass.

The woman raised concerns about immigration and filmed Mr Ahern without his knowledge.

He said he believed there were “too many” immigrants coming into the country.

“But the ones I worry about are the Africans,” he said.

“We can’t be taking in people from the Congo and all these places. I think there’s too many from those places.” 

Mr Ahern also said he was not concerned about the current generation of Muslim people but was worried about the next one.

Taoiseach responds to remarks 

Speaking at the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday morning, Mr Martin said it was “unfair” to suggest the comments reflected the views of Fianna Fáil or its Dublin Central by-election candidate, John Stephens.

“As far as we are concerned, I think it's not appropriate, in my view, to be specific about any given ethnicity,” he said.

“That's not, in my view, correct or not proper. We have to respect people. We have many different ethnicities in Ireland, many Irish citizens with different ethnic backgrounds, and that has to be respected.” 

When asked whether Mr Ahern’s comments were “unhelpful”, Mr Martin told the Irish Examiner it was “an exchange on a doorstep”.

Comments on asylum system 

The Taoiseach said Ireland has a “fair and robust asylum system” and that Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan has introduced “significant reforms” to make the asylum process more “efficient” and ensure applications are dealt with promptly.

He continued: “What's evident from the statistics is quite a number do not achieve asylum status.

“I think what one of the big problems in the past was that the process went on for years, and it went on too long. We have to improve it and continue to improve it.

“Then we have a broader migration story where people work, come into work in our health service through work permits or through the European Union, and are a very valuable part of our economic life and of our healthcare system, and indeed, our caring system as well.” 

A spokesperson for Mr Ahern told the Irish Examiner that “Bertie wasn’t aware he was being recorded until the end of the conversation”.