Ahern criticised over migrants stance

THE EDITOR of the Irish Voice newspaper in New York and Irish migrants rights activist has renewed his criticism of former taoiseach Bertie Ahern over his stance on the undocumented Irish in the US.

At the opening of the Blasket Island Commemoration in Dunquin, Co Kerry, at the weekend, Niall O'Dowd accused Mr Ahern of making insulting comments about the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform in America.

Mr O'Dowd clashed with Mr Ahern last March over the former taoiseach's comments on the prospects of an amnesty for illegal Irish migrants in the US.

He and others had formed the reform lobby in 2006, and held talks last year with senators John McCain and Ted Kennedy.

"But most of all we talked to the Irish Government and we didn't get very far with the previous Irish government. Bertie Ahern made some very insulting comments about us, including that we were a bunch of Irish in a bar talking nonsense when we talked about what we thought could have been achieved in terms of legislation.

"I'm glad to say that the new Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, has a fundamental and completely different attitude to the issue. He has been incredibly supportive," he said.

The theme of the annual three- day event, which was officially opened by Mr O'Dowd, was "Emigration and Beyond".

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times