Bertie Ahern predicts immigration to be a big issue in the general election

Eva Osborne

Bertie Ahern thinks immigration will be one of the biggest issues in the upcoming general election.

Speaking on 'The Stand' podcast with Eamon Dunphy, the former Taoiseach discussed the issue of population growth in recent years.

The former Fianna Fáil leader said when he was involved in politics, the big issue was people leaving the country - and now it is the opposite.

"Back in the day, Eamon, our concern in general elections was emigration. It was the amount of people from the labour market, young people that had no option but to emigrate, and now it's people coming in here," he said.

"Now many of them have talents, many of them want to work, but it is making life more difficult for rentals."