Bertie Ahern migration comments ’caused hurt and harm’, Tanaiste says

It is “never acceptable” to make comments on migration about a group of people based on their race, ethnicity or religion, the Tanaiste has said.

Simon Harris was reacting to comments about Africans and Muslims made by former taoiseach Bertie Ahern which were circulated in a social media video.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Mr Harris said: “It’s perfectly legitimate in any country to debate, migration migration policy – people will have different views, that’s fine.

“But what’s never acceptable to do, is to comment the base an entire group of people based on their race, their ethnicity, or their religion.

“That’s not a helpful contribution to a migration device.

“It’s also hurtful to people.”

Mr Harris said there was need to be “very careful in terms of grouping people based on nationality, or religion”.

Fianna Fail deputy leader Jack Chambers said Mr Ahern’s comments were “totally wrong and inappropriate”.

He told reporters: “He certainly wasn’t reflecting my party’s value of people who’ve come to Ireland, and the contribution they make across our public services and across our economy.”

The social media video showing Mr Ahern discussing immigration has circulated in recent days.

He had been canvassing for the party’s Dublin Central by-election candidate Councillor John Stephens.

The video shows a constituent criticising Fianna Fail and other parties over immigration.

At one point Mr Ahern, who has said the minutes-long video was recorded without his knowledge, comments that he thinks there “are too many coming in” and “the ones I’m worried about is the Africans”, adding: “We can’t be taking in people from the Congo and those places.”

He says he has “no problem with the Ukrainians”.

In response to a question from the constituent on Muslims, he says: “I don’t worry about this generation of Muslims, the next generation – the kids are growing up – that’s where I think the problem will be.”

Asked on Wednesday if the views expressed match those of Fianna Fail and Mr Stephens, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said: “They’re not – I think it’s unfair to extrapolate that and to suggest that.”

Mr Martin added: “As far as we are concerned, I think it’s not appropriate, in my view, to sort of be specific about any given ethnicity.

“That’s not, in my view, correct or proper. I think 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.”

Mr Ahern has said he supports the views of Fianna Fail’s Jim O’Callaghan, the Justice Minister, on immigration and that the asylum process should be quicker.

He also said he has “no problem” with people who come through visa and asylum systems.