Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
ENTERPRISE MINISTER JACK Chambers has described comments made by former taoiseach Bertie Ahern on immigration as “totally wrong and inappropriate”.
Tánaiste Simon Harris has also said the remarks caused “hurt and harm”, while a Fianna Fáil MEP has called on Ahern to consider issuing an apology over what he said.
Ahern was canvassing on behalf of Dublin Central byelection candidate John Stephens and was covertly filmed during an interaction on a woman’s doorstep when he made the comments.
A video of the interaction was shared on X, and it showed the woman raising concerns about immigration.
During their conversation, Ahern appeared to agree with some of the woman’s comments, saying himself that there were “too many coming in” and voicing particular concerns about arrivals from African countries. He mentioned “the Congo” by name and also commented on Muslim communities and future generations.
A spokesperson for Ahern said yesterday that he “wasn’t aware he was being recorded until the end of the conversation”.
Ahern subsequently said he has “no problem” with people from “the Congo” or Africa. and that he supports the views of justice minister Jim O’Callaghan on immigration and that the asylum process should be quicker.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin yesterday said his party “don’t approve” of Ahern’s comments.
Asked about the remarks at a conference in Dublin’s Croke Park this morning, Jack Chambers told The Journal said Ireland was the country it is today “because of the diversity of people who’ve come here who contribute to our economy”.
He certainly wasn’t reflecting my party’s value of people who come to Ireland and the contribution they make across our public services and across our economy.
Chambers said people of multiple nationalities have “added so much to the community I live in”, adding that their contribution was ”so valued” and “a critical part to Ireland continuing to thrive in the years ahead”.
Asked if he was concerned if any Fianna Fáil TDs shared Ahern’s views, he said: “I don’t think so.
“I think people support the Minister for Justice’s reforms around having a fair, efficient and firm migration system. But that’s different to categorising anybody and coming to a conclusion about any particular person from any particular country.”
Elsewhere this morning, Tánaiste Simon Harris also criticised Ahern’s comments.
“It’s perfectly legitimate in any country to debate migration policy – people will have different views, that’s fine,” he said.
“But what’s never acceptable to do is to comment an entire group of people based on their race, their ethnicity, or their religion. That’s not a helpful contribution to a migration debate. It’s also hurtful to people.”
Harris said there was a need to be “very careful in terms of grouping people based on nationality, or religion”.
He added: “I know Bertie Ahern, I have much respect for him – I doubt he meant any hurt or harm, but I think objectivity, the comments did cause that, and I’m sure he’ll reflect on that too.”
Speaking to The Journal on his canvas in areas around Phibsborough on Wednesday evening, Social Democrats candidate in the Dublin Central byelection Daniel Ennis called Ahern’s comments “absolutely vile”.
“We’re in politics to take a brave stance. Leadership is so important, and our language is so important,” the Dublin City councillor said.
On RTÉ’s Morning Ireland programme this morning, Fianna Fáil MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú said Ahern should consider apologising for what he said.
“This is not the Bertie Ahern that I know and respect and, in fact, I’m so fond of. This is out of character,” she said.
“It’s really important in the current climate that we’re in that words that are spoken are clarified to the nth degree, and I appreciate Bertie has gone to great lengths to explain the context of what he said.”
She said she had listened to the full exchange, which was recorded without his permission, and said the words he spoke “are not words that represent my views and my opinions and that of Fianna Fáil”.
“We cannot be calling out a certain race or a certain country. It is very unhelpful and as I say, I was extremely surprised and saddened,” she said. “I really would like if an apology was issued by him because apologies do matter, particularly in the current climate.”
Speaking on the same programme, Independent councillor and former lord mayor of Dublin Nial Ring said Ahern does not need to apologise, adding that Ahern has come out and given context for his comments.
“It was gotcha politics at its lowest levels. If we start cancelling and looking for apologies based on the ten-second clip, taken out of context, nobody would be safe from the woke brigade in this case. It’s really a storm in a teacup,” Ring said.
He went on to say that the comment that Ahern made about Congo was “probably ill-judged”.
With reporting by Andrew Walsh
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say