Ex-Irish PM Ahern clarifies immigration stance after 'I worry about Africans' recording

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 Ahern and the Fianna Fáil party about immigration, criticising the "hoards of foreigners coming into our country".

"Can we not close our borders?" she asked him.

Pushed for his personal view on the subject, Ahern told the woman that Ireland had to accept some migrants but added he believed "there's too many coming in".

He then went on to say he had "no problem with the Ukrainians" because of the "war in their country".

However, Ahern then 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."

The woman then asked the former taoiseach about Muslim migrants and said she was concerned about Sharia Law.

Ahern responded: "I don't worry about this generation of Muslims.

"The next generation, when the kids start growing up, there then that's when I think the problem will be."

He told the woman he had shared that concern with the Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan who has responsibility for migration.

Later in the recording - which runs to more than five minutes - the woman tells Ahern she has recorded their conversation and plans to release it on social media.

She also criticises Ahern as he walks away, accusing him of "not speaking up for the Irish".

Speaking to RTÉ News, Ahern said the video was part of a longer conversation with the woman.

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

He added that many African people had gone through the system successfully and now live and work in his local area in Dublin.