Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern has stood by comments he made in a viral clip of him saying “there are too many” immigrants coming into Ireland.

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In an exclusive interview with The Indo Daily, he told Kevin Doyle he believed he was “speaking privately” while the clip was being recorded, and he was being recorded without his knowledge. Mr Ahern told The Indo Daily he rejects racism “in all its forms”, and he should not have singled out any one nationality or group of people in his comments.

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Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern has stood by comments he made in a viral clip of him saying “there are too many” immigrants coming into Ireland.
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In an exclusive interview with The Indo Daily, he told Kevin Doyle he believed he was “speaking privately” while the clip was being recorded, and he was being recorded without his knowledge. Mr Ahern told The Indo Daily he rejects racism “in all its forms”, and he should not have singled out any one nationality or group of people in his comments.
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We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at <a href="https://independent.ie/ourjournalism">independent.ie/ourjournalism</a>

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Bertie Ahern: ‘I’m in no way racist’ - Former Taoiseach discusses secret recording, ‘radicalization’ concerns and his controversial immigration comments 