Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions
Dail Éireann — 2026-05-14
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Ivana Bacik (LAB), Dublin Bay South

The comments of former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern are deeply disturbing. Particularly alarming was the way in which he singled out specific ethnic, religious and national identities. More than being just offensive and irresponsible, his language was dangerous and inflammatory. For a politician who devoted so much of his career to finding a resolution to the Troubles - a conflict based on religious division - it was shameful to hear him refer to a child's religion, Islam, when he said he is worried about the next generation of Muslims.
In the context of the Dublin Central by-election, it was profoundly wrong to use language that could direct public anger towards migrants and minorities. We have already heard a candidate in that constituency make an outrageous call for internment of refugees. In the other by-election in Galway West, a torrent of despicable online racist abuse has been directed at the Labour Party candidate, Councillor Helen Ogbu.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-05-14/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:56+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-14