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

I thank the Tánaiste for his comment that Bertie Ahern's remarks were not appropriate and were wrong. Will he go further by calling them out and calling on Mr. Ahern to apologise? It is ironic, as the Tánaiste will appreciate as Fine Gael leader, that Bertie Ahern should have the temerity to fuel rhetoric that blames immigrants for systemic problems in Ireland. This is the man whose policies brought about the worst financial crash in the history of the State. Since that crash, migrants have played a pivotal role in rebuilding our economy. Let us acknowledge that.
We should look around this Chamber. We are dealing today with an outrageous slur made by a former Taoiseach against people of African heritage and descent. Yet, in this Chamber, there is no one of colour. There is no African voice to testify to the hurt those comments caused or to testify at first hand about the direct experience of racism.
My Labour colleagues and I very much hope that will change after the Galway West by-election. We know we have a candidate who exemplifies the new Ireland. I am not going to speak any further-----

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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