Overview
- The secretly recorded doorstep video, which surfaced Wednesday, shows Bertie Ahern telling a voter he worries about Africans and about the next generation of Muslims while canvassing for Fianna Fáil’s Dublin Central candidate John Stephens.
- Speaking Friday, Ahern said his comments were not careful or polished and that he rejects racism, and he stood over raising migration concerns but said he was wrong to single out a nationality and did not issue a full apology.
- Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the remarks do not reflect Fianna Fáil’s position and on Friday said the party has given clear guidance to canvassers on what is permissible during voter outreach.
- Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said Friday he does not believe Ahern is racist and called identifying specific nationalities as less favourable inappropriate, while stressing a fair, firm, rules-based system.
- Following Thursday’s condemnations, including Tánaiste Simon Harris saying the comments caused hurt and a Fianna Fáil MEP urging an apology, the dispute continues to influence debate in one of Ireland’s most diverse constituencies ahead of the May 22nd vote.