Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar raised concerns about the rising levels of anti-immigrant sentiment and racism in Ireland during an interview on the "Late Late Show" on Friday night.
Speaking to host Patrick Kielty, Varadkar said people of color now experience racism while "going about their daily lives."
Varadkar was speaking 24 hours after an anti-immigrant protest in Newtownmountkennedy sparked violent clashes between protesters and gardaí outside a site earmarked to house international protection applicants.
Varadkar told Kielty that he is worried about the "extent to which migration and anti-migrant feelings are going to become part of our politics".
"Don’t get me wrong, migration is a serious issue, it’s an important topic. We need to have debate about it, we need to have a policy on it," Varadkar said.
"But it needs to be done in a way that is respectful, that doesn’t leave space for anger, and doesn’t leave space for hatred or violence. That’s something I hope as a country we can avoid as best we can."
Varadkar said migration brings out the "best and worst" in people, adding that he knows of families that now fear for the safety of their children.
"What I’m seeing now in Ireland that I don’t like to see, just to give you an example, I have a friend who is married to someone who is black. And they have kids and their kids are like me, they’re biracial. And for the first time, they’re worried about their kids.
"And their kids are Irish, their mother is Irish, they grew up here. And now for the first time, they are experiencing racism going about their daily lives."
Addressing his recent decision to step down as Taoiseach, Varadkar said he almost "chickened out" and said going through with the decision was the "hardest part".
However, he said the role had taken a toll on him and that it was not sustainable.
"When you’re Taoiseach, you’re always Taoiseach. It’s very long hours, it’s most evenings, most weekends. You’re always concerned and worrying about the problems the country faces. And that shouldn’t be forever," Varadkar said.
Varadkar added that he would not miss his clashes with Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald in the Dáil and added that he did not know if she would make a good Taoiseach.
"I honestly don’t know. That needs to be seen. Or it may never be seen, who knows? That depends on how people vote in the election."
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