President Connolly says politicians need 'to take responsibility for what they say'

She was responding after being asked about Bertie Ahern's comments on migration

President Catherine Connolly

President Catherine Connolly has said that politicians need to “take responsibility for what they say” following comments made by former taoiseach Bertie Ahern about migration.

Mr Ahern was filmed in recent weeks while canvassing on a doorstep for the Fianna Fáil by-election candidate in Dublin Central, John Stephens.

He said that there were “too many” immigrants coming into Ireland and that he was “worried about the Africans”.

He also said he was “worried” about the next generation of Muslim people growing up in Ireland.

Asked about the comments during her trip to London, President Connolly said she will leave the by-elections in both Dublin Central and Galway West to the politicians.

“On a general level, I think we all have to own our own words,” she said.

“We, and particularly myself in my role, and other politicians, have to take responsibility for what they say.” 

The first event of Ms Connolly’s three-day visit to the United Kingdom saw her address the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith, west London.

The centre, which was set up 30 years ago, offers Irish language courses and music lessons to the Irish diaspora in the English capital.

In her speech, she told those gathered that Irish people have come to England in “waves for decades”.

Going slightly off script, she said that the housing crisis in Ireland means that people are still making the trip across the Irish Sea.

“Historically, of course, immigration was driven by economic factors, with large numbers leaving for London, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, and elsewhere,” President Connolly said.

“This occurred in waves, and we know that from the 19th century and the 20th century, and unfortunately, today as well, we have people leaving our shores for various reasons, some of them for lack of housing.

“The immigration that we're dealing with occurred in waves that peaked in the 50s and the 80s, when unemployment and economic stagnation in Ireland was pushing many to leave the shores for the hope of better opportunities abroad.”