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Bertie Ahern |
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Bertie AhernPatrick Bartholemew Ahern (Ir Pádraig Parthalán Ó hEachtairn) (born September 12, 1951), commonly called Bertie Ahern is an Irish politician. He is currently the tenth Taoiseach of Ireland heading a Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats coalition government. He is currently the third longest serving Taoiseach. Ahern has been a TD for Dublin Central since 1977 and has been the sixth leader of Fianna Fáil since 1994. He has previously served as Minister for Labour (1987-1991), Minister for Finance (1991-1994) and acting Tánaiste on one brief occasion. Early and private lifeAhern was born in Drumcondra, Dublin into a traditional republican family. His father Con, a native of County Cork, had seen active service during the War of Independence, the Civil War and had been a supporter of Eamon de Valera and the Anti-Treaty forces. His mother, Julia, was also a native of the Rebel County. Ahern was educated at St. Patrick's National School in Drumcondra, St. Aidan's Christian Brothers in Whitehall, University College Dublin, Rathmines College of Commerce and has claimed to have been educated at the London School of Economics. Ahern qualified as an accountant and secured a job in the Mater Hospital. By 1972 Ahern had met his wife-to-be, Miriam Kelly, a bank official who lived just around the corner from the Ahern's in Dublin. The couple were married on the occasion of Ahern's 24th birthday in 1975. However, juggling political and personal lives proved too much for the couple. The strains were clearly visible when Ahern became Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1986. However, it was the pressure of a Cabinet position which drove the couple even further apart. The couple officially separated in 1992, although the two are still on good terms with one another. Ahern later also enjoyed a long-term relationship with Celia Larkin, a Fianna Fáil activist who he met in the 1980s, and a former friend of his wife. However, since mid-2003 they are no longer a couple. Ahern has two daughters from his marriage: Georgina and Cecelia, the latter a best-selling novelist. The marriage of his daughter Georgina to Westlifes Nicky Byrne proved a major talking point. The decision by the couple to marry in France instead of Ireland, the cost of the wedding, the show-business aspect, and the selling of the wedding photos to the magazine Hello all proved to be the source of controversy. Ahern is a deeply religious politician. A devout Roman Catholic, he has twice visited Lourdes with his late mother and he attends Mass every Saturday evening in the Pro Cathedral in Dublin. He proudly displays the sign of the cross on his forehead every Ash Wednesday. However, despite his religiosity, he was publicly criticised by then Archbishop of Dublin Desmond Cardinal Connell for the public nature of his relationship with Celia Larkin and that a separated father is no role model to young people for a leadership position. Connell's ire was in part because, on his return from Rome after his installation as a cardinal, he was invited to a state reception in his honour which was officially described as being hosted by "Mr Bertie Ahern and Ms. Celia Larkin." Early political careerAhern's introduction to politics came at the age of 14 when he became involved in a Fianna Fáil by-election campaign in his constituency. Ahern had the task of climbing up lamp posts to hang up election posters. During this campaign Ahern first met his political mentor and future Taoiseach, Charles Haughey. In the 1969 General Election Ahern helped in the election campaign in his constituency again. The Dublin-Central constituency produced Charles Haughey and George Colley as TDss. These two men would later go on to battle with each other for the leadership of the party a decade later. The 1977 General Election was Ahern's first attempt to get elected and he succeeded. Ahern received 4,000 first preference votes and was elected with transfers from other candidates. His first election set a precedent because he went on to become one of the highest vote-getters in the country. The election was not only a special occasion for Ahern. Fianna Fáil achieved 50% of first preference votes and was elected with a 20 seat Dáil majority, the biggest majority ever in Irish parliamentary history. It was also the last time that one, single party governed with an overall majority. During his first few years as a TD Ahern was just another anonymous backbencher, however, he did have ambition. In 1979 the concerns of the Fianna Fáil Party turned to who would succeed Jack Lynch as Party leader and as Taoiseach. The two contenders were two of Ahern's old constituency colleagues, Charles Haughey and George Colley. It is well known that Ahern, who had served on a health committee with Haughey in the mid-70s, backed Haughey in the leadership race. In the Cabinet reshuffle which ensued Ahern knew that he was too low down on the political ladder to expect any real promotion from Haughey, however, he was still appointed Assistant Government Chief Whip. In 1980 the actual Chief Whip, Seán Moore, became very ill. This meant that Ahern was effectively doing the work of Moore without any additional credit. However, he did build up experience of the goings-on and dealings of government. In 1981 and 1982 Ireland was faced with three general elections Ahern increased his personal vote on all three elections, on one occasion he even out-polled his running mate George Colley, a man who had hoped to be Taoiseach less than three years earlier. In the short-lived Fianna Fáil government of 1982 Ahern served as Government Chief Whip. Fianna Fáil were consigned to the opposition benches for five years. During this fallow period Ahern became Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1986. Cabinet careerIn 1987 Fianna Fáil returned to power with a minority government. Ahern was appointed Minister for Labour, not a hugely important portfolio when he took over. By the time he left it was apparent that it was a central department in kick-starting Ireland's ailing economy. Haughey, Albert Reynolds and Ray MacSharry were all involved in negotiating with the trade unions and in getting a national economic agreement. However, it was Ahern who became the star of the show when helped clinch the deal. Although MacSharry and Reynolds were members of the Party's hierarchy, it was Ahern who was seen as the key player. In 1989 Haughey called an early general election in the hope of achieving that elusive overall majority. However, Fianna Fáil actually lost seats. It became apparent that Fianna Fáil may have to enter into a coalition government. The Progressive Democrats seemed to be the most likely partners and negotiations got underway, led by Albert Reynolds and Ahern. The idea of a coalition was abhorrent to some members of Fianna Fáil and the negotiations were criticised. This prompted Ahern to quote John F. Kennedy by saying that we will not negotiate through fear, but we will never fear to negotiate. The talks were successful and a coalition was formed with Ahern returning as Minister for Labour. In 1990 Ahern was made campaign manager for the presidential bid of his cabinet colleague, Brian Lenihan. It proved to be one of Ahern's least successful campaign as the apparently unbeatable Lenihan in an unlosable race lost to Labour's Mary Robinson, after Lenihan was found telling diametrically opposed versions of the same incident; one to the Irish public and one months earlier to the journalist Jim Duffy. Ahern's revelation, whether deliberate or accidential, live on radio that Duffy had interviewed Lenihan, at a time when the Irish media was full of rumours that Lenihan had given a different version of the controversial incident to some unknown person, led the journalist to be besieged in a media onslaught, leading to the reluctant release of a portion of the tape interview in which Lenihan gave the different version. In the aftermath Lenihan was sacked from cabinet and lost the election. Ahern was damaged in the short term by being seen as the first Fianna Fáil presidential election campaign manager to lose ta presidential election. In 1991 the programme for government was reviewed between Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats. Ahern was a key player in these talks yet again. When all hope had faded of a return to government Ahern pulled off a master stroke and the coalition was back on track. This prompted Haughey to remark of Ahern, 'He's the most clever, the most cunning, the best of the lot.' In November 1991 the Minister for Finance Albert Reynolds and his supporters launched a leadership challenge to Haughey. Ahern publicly backed Haughey, however, he knew that he would be retiring as Taoiseach the following year anyway. The challenge by Reynolds failed and he and his supporters were dismissed from the Cabinet. In the Cabinet reshuffle that followed Ahern was promoted to Reynolds' old portfolio, that of Minister for Finance. Ahern was now the most important minister in the government, however, he had the difficult task of preparing a Budget in just a few weeks. Reynolds succeedsIn early 1992 Charles Haughey resigned as Taoiseach. Ahern was his preferred successor and he was also encouraged by many other colleagues to allow his name go forward, however he was apprehensive. Eventually better judgment prevailed and he remained out of the leadership contest. Apparently Reynolds and Ahern struck a deal in which if Ahern withdrew from the contest he would remain in the Cabinet and Reynolds would retire after a few years leaving the way open for Ahern. Albert Reynolds eventually became Haughey's successor as Fianna Fáil leader and Taoiseach. Ahern and Dr. Michael Woods were the only two senior members to remain in the new Reynolds Cabinet, with Ahern retaining his Finance portfolio. Following the 1992 General Election Fianna Fáil formed a coalition government with the Irish Labour Party. This lasted until late 1994 when Labour withdrew from government. Ahern replaced Labour leader Dick Spring as acting Tánaiste, however, his tenure was brief as Reynolds subsequently resigned as Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader. This time Ahern was poised to take over the leadership. Party leaderIt was a foregone conclusion that Ahern would succeed Reynolds as leader, however, another candidate, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, allowed her name go forward in the leadership race. Eventually Geoghegan-Quinn withdrew and Ahern was elected unopposed as the sixth leader of Fianna Fáil on 17 November, 1994. He has been the only leader since Sean Lemass to be elected unopposed. Negotiations between Fianna Fáil and the Labour Party for a continuation of government got underway as quickly as possible. It was taken for granted that the coalition would continue and that Ahern would become the next Taoiseach. However the Labour leader, Dick Spring, called off the arrangement and Ahern found himself as leader of the Opposition instead of leader of the government. Ahern was hugely disappointed to occupy the government benches and he was often outshone in the Dáil by Mary Harney of the Progressive Democrats. In 1997 a general election was called and it was clear that there would be a change of government in the new Dáil. Eventually Fianna Fáil formed a coalition government with the Progressive Democrats, with the support of four Independent TDs. The PD leader, Mary Harney, would become Tánaiste and would have one other seat at Cabinet. On 26 June, 1997, at the age of 45, Bertie Ahern became the youngest Taoiseach in the history of the Irish state. First Government (1997-2002)Ahern's first government saw some early teething problems in the first six months. Firstly, Ahern attempted to nominate David Andrews as Minister for Defence and as Junior Minister at the Department of Foreign Affairs. However, this was pointed out as being unconstitutional as one minister cannot be subordinate to another. Ahern was forced into a quick retreat but there was no lasting damage. Secondly, in July Charles Haughey gave evidence at the McCracken Tribunal in which he stated that he received £1.3 million from Ben Dunne and that he had lied before about it. However, this episode did more damage to Haughey's reputation than it did to the government's. Thirdly, allegations about Ahern's Foreign Minister, Ray Burke, began to surface again. He eventually admitted to receiving £30,000 in a corrupt payment and was forced to resign. These early incidents were only minor setbacks to a government that was only finding its feet. One of the high points of the first six months was the renewal of the Provisional IRA ceasefire, which paved the way for more negotiations. Another controversial aspect of Ahern's first half-year in office occurred when it came to nominating a presidential candidate in 1997. Former Cabinet ministers Albert Reynolds and Michael O'Kennedy were interested in seeking the Fianna Fáil nomination for President. However, Mary McAleese, a relatively unknown Party activist also sought a nomination. Ahern, it is alleged, had promised Reynolds his support if he ran in the 1997 General Election. However, in a meeting of ministers the Taoiseach gave a typically ambiguous speech which seemed to encourage his Cabinet to support McAleese. In the end, McAleese was successful and she went on to become the eighth President of Ireland. Reynolds was humiliated. One of Ahern's biggest achievements as Taoiseach has been the on-going progress in the Northern Ireland Peace-Process. Developments came to their zenith when history was made at Easter 1998 with the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. The agreement was seen as something special because not only was it endorsed by the political parties, but it also was endorsed by the British and Irish governments and the people of the Republic and Northern Ireland. The Agreement has led to a devolved power-sharing government, albeit suspended for the time being, but the hope is that permanent devolved government will return to Stormont in the near future. The negotiations also led to a new friendship with the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair. Another area in which Ahern can claim credit is in the expansion of the Irish economy during his first five years in office. Increased prosperity for all and a better standard of living were the main results of the Celtic Tiger economy. The good economic conditions allowed the Minister for Finance, Charlie McCreevy, to deliver several give-away budgets. Another achievement was Ireland's reaction to the 2001 Foot & Mouth Disease Crisis. Only a handful of cases were discovered in Ireland and the government was generally praised for their vigilance and swift reaction. Following the 2002 General Election the Fianna Fáil led coalition was re-elected with an even bigger Dáil majority. It was thought that the Party might even achieve an unprecedented overall majority. However, Fianna Fáil was only a handful of seats short of the 84 required, and, as a result the coalition government remained in power. It was the first time a government had been re-elected since Jack Lynch's in 1969. Not only did the government retain its overall majority but it devastated the opposition parties. The huge election victory was clearly a vote of confidence in the government and its policies. Second Government (2002-present)George W. Bush, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Ahern at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland on April 8, 2003.Controversy surrounded the government's return to power when it was announced that certain cutbacks had to be made. This was the contrary to what Fianna Fáil had promised. Charlie McCreevy had been quoted several times as saying that "no cutbacks, secret or otherwise, were planned." However, a slight downturn in the economy forced the government to rethink its policies. The government were accused of lying to the public and Ahern was booed on several occasions, including at a Croke Park GAA match and at the opening of the 2003 Special Olympics. During this time Ahern's popularity dropped to a new low. However, this unpopular phase seemed short-lived and the government soon rearranged its priorities. One of the most famous pieces of legislation launched by the government was the blanket ban on smoking in all workplaces and inclosed areas. Huge advancements have been made in transport with the launch of the Luas, new motorways being built and the break-up of Aer Rianta. One of Ahern's biggest achievements to date has been his successful handling of the Presidency of the European Council (see [1]) in 2004. Ireland's presidency is generally considered one of the best. During this time EU leaders reached consensus on a new European Constitution, there was a rapprochement in EU-US relations, the EU formally admitted 10 new members, and selected José Manuel Durão Barroso as next President of the European Commission. For a while it looked as if Ahern himself might become President of the Commission, however, he declined in favour of domestic politics. George W. Bush accepts a bowl of shamrock from Taoiseach Bertie Ahern during a ceremony celebrating St. Patrick's Day in 2005. The futureIn interviews Ahern has expressed his interest in leading Fianna Fáil into a third historic general election victory which he hopes will be in 2007. He has repeatedly stated that he hopes to remain in politics until he is 60 years old, whether he is Taoiseach, a backbencher or otherwise. Coincidentally the 2011 retirement date Ahern has set himself ties in with a Presidential election. However, it is certainly doubtful that such a hands-on politician as Ahern would wish to accept the political graveyard that is the Irish presidency. Two candidates considered contenders to succeed him, Ministers Micheál Martin and Brian Cowen, have pledged their loyalty to Ahern and have no immediate plans to unseat him. Cowen is seen as the heir-apparent to the leadership, however it is certain that Ahern will lead the Party into a third general election campaign. Quotes from Ahern
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