WATCH: Former Taoiseach filmed saying Ireland "can’t be taking in people from the Congo"

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is facing backlash after being filmed in Dublin saying, in part, that "we can’t be taking in people from the Congo and all these places."

Ahern, who was leader of Fianna Fáil from 1994 through 2008 and Taoiseach from 1997 through 2008, made the comments while canvassing for Fianna Fáil candidate John Stephens ahead of this month's Dublin Central by-election.

In the video that has been circulating on social media this week, a woman  - who did not immediately disclose that she was recording - tells Ahern that she is "disappointed" in him, his party, and all the other parties, "and the globalism and the hordes of foreigners coming into our country."

"Can we not close our borders?" she asked the former Taoiseach. She takes issue with "all these people coming in," including Indians, Muslims, and Africans.

"They don't give a s--t about Ireland," the woman claims. "They don't have the feeling that we have. Our culture is gone."

When pressed about what he thinks, Ahern said: "I'm long gone now, but I think there's too many coming in.

“I think we have to take some in. I have no problems with the Ukrainians because, in fairness, Russia moved in, and [there is] war in their country. But a lot of the Ukrainians are going back now.

"We still have a lot of Poles here.

“But the ones I worry about are the Africans. I agree with you on 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.”

When asked about "Sharia law" and the "Muslims coming in," Ahern said: "The Muslims - I don’t worry about this generation of Muslims. The next generation of the kids that are growing up, that’s when I think the problem will be."

Ahern said he said that to Jim O'Callaghan, Ireland's Minister for Justice.

It was a few minutes into the exchange before the woman revealed she was recording Ahern and told him she was going to post it to X.

A portion of footage has since been shared by RTÉ News:

"I have no problem with people who come here through the visa and asylum systems."

As the video began to spread, Ahern told the Irish Independent on Wednesday: "I was trying to calm it all down, you know, you knock on hundreds of doors, and she was taping it behind the door.

"It’s a different world, this social media thing. You talk to people at doors, and you don’t expect people to be taping you, you don’t expect people to be recording. She had all her facts ... they recite facts.

"One time you could talk to people and argue with them…. I actually went back to speak to her… I shouldn't have bothered.

"It happened about 10 days ago, I was trying to help John [Stephens] out a bit, he helped me for 20 years, so I’m trying to pay it back now.”

Ahern also said he supported O'Callaghan's policies on immigration: “Let there be no doubt about.

“I have said in the past the asylum process should be quicker, but I do acknowledge it has speeded up a bit in recent times.

“I have no problem with people who come here through the visa and asylum systems.”

"Disgusting racism"

Still, others are critical of Ahern's comments, with some urging him to apologize.

During Leaders' Questions in the Dáil on Wednesday, People Before Profit Solidarity TD Paul Murphy labeled Ahern's comments as "disgusting racism."

Addressing Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Murphy said: "He [Ahern] said he worries about the next generation of Muslims. Bertie Ahern doing it makes the agenda very blatant: scapegoat immigrants and divide ordinary people. Why? So that nobody blames Bertie Ahern, Fianna Fáil, and the landlords and developers Fianna Fáil has allowed to profit from the housing crisis."

He added: "People from the Congo did not take corrupt payments from developers to blow up the property bubble. They were never found by a tribunal to have been untruthful in explaining how €400,000 in today's money passed through their bank accounts.

"Muslim children did not crash the economy, causing years of misery and austerity for ordinary people. Unlike Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, they never rolled out the red carpet for developers and vulture funds. They are not the ones who sowed the seeds of the current housing disaster and they were not the ones who refused to maintain council flats and then voted to increase council rents.

"All of this is an act of mass distraction. From what? From the horrendous conditions many people in Dublin Central are forced to face every day. Right across Dublin city, there are council tenants living in conditions that nobody should be asked to live in."

Responding to Murphy, the Taoiseach, who is also the current leader of Fianna Fáil, pointed to Ireland's "fair and robust" asylum system.

He added: "I do not approve of any commentary that would in any way undermine any particular ethnicity or any person with a particular ethnic background. I have been very clear about that."

The Taoiseach said it was his understanding that Ahern had "resiled from those comments and says he has no issue with people who come through our asylum process."

He added: "I want to be very clear from my perspective and my party's perspective that we do not approve of those specific comments. They were in a conversation that was subsequently published. It was not, therefore, a distraction process by anybody here because no one could anticipate that any commentary of that kind would be in the public domain."

"I am quite sure it was unintentional"

And during Leaders' Questions in the Dáil on Thursday, Labor leader TD Ivana Bacik labelled Ahern's comments as "deeply disturbing" and asked if Tánaiste Simon Harris, the head of Fine Gael, would condemn them and call on Ahern to apologize.

"I want to be very clear in relation to the comments of the former Taoiseach: they were not appropriate and they were wrong," Harris replied.

"It absolutely is perfectly legitimate in this country - in fact, I would even go so far as to say it is essential - that we debate migration policy. No one has an issue with that. It is important to debate it. We might have different views and perspectives on it, and that is okay. It is important that we debate the laws and systems around migration. No one has an issue with that.

He added: "...It is never acceptable to single out an entire group of people based on their race, ethnicity or religion."

When asked if we would consider encouraging Ahern to apologize, Harris said: "I am quite sure it was unintentional but those comments have caused significant hurt to a significant number of people who make a very fine contribution to our public services and society. It is up to individuals what they wish to do, but I am quite sure, knowing Bertie Ahern, that he did not intend that harm and, therefore, he should reflect on it further."

"We must avoid rhetoric that scapegoats entire communities"

Meanwhile, Shaykh Dr. Umar Al-Qadri, the head of the Dublin-based Irish Muslim Council, said he was "deeply disappointed" by Ahern's comments.

"Such remarks reflect a worrying lack of understanding and risk undermining the values of respect and inclusion that Irish society stands for," he said on social media.

"While it is important to discuss the challenges facing Ireland openly and honestly, we must avoid rhetoric that scapegoats entire communities. Immigrants across Ireland contribute positively every day through their work, service, and commitment to this country.

"I would respectfully urge Mr. Ahern to reflect carefully on the impact such comments can have on community relations and social cohesion. Ireland is strongest when it leads with fairness, dignity, and mutual respect."

Similarly, the Africa Solidarity Centre Ireland said it strongly condemns Ahern's “vile and dangerous" remarks.

"Such rhetoric is irresponsible; it fuels racism, xenophobia and social division, and runs counter to the values of equality, dignity and respect enshrined in the Irish Constitution," the group said.

"African, migrant and Muslim communities are an essential part of modern Ireland and contribute daily to the country’s development.

"We call on all political leaders and public figures to reject the rhetoric of fear and to promote social cohesion, inclusion and mutual respect."