Bertie Ahern: Ex-Irish PM clarifies immigration stance after video comments

Former taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Bertie Ahern has said he has no issue with people who come to Ireland "through the visa and asylum systems" after facing criticism over comments he made on immigration in a video. Ahern appears to tell a potential voter he had "no problem" with Ukrainians coming into Ireland but added: "The ones I worry about are the Africans." "We can't be taking in people from the Congo and all these places. I think there's too many from those places," he said in the recording, which has been circulating on social media. Ahern told Irish broadcaster RTÉ he was recorded without his knowledge and the conversation happened "around nine or 10 days ago". The current taoiseach, Micheál Martin, responding to questions about Ahern's reported comments described them as "not appropriate". The video, which has not been verified by the BBC, is believed to have been made when Ahern was canvassing voters in a Dublin housing estate. A woman who answered her door to the canvassing team asked if they had a politician she could speak to and was then introduced to Ahern, who served for almost 11 years as leader of the Republic of Ireland. The woman immediately challenged Aher

May 13, 2026 → May 13, 2026