Bertie Ahern
Bartholomew Patrick "Bertie" Ahern (born 12 September 1951) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as Taoiseach from 1997 to 2008, Leader of Fianna Fáil from 1994 to 2008, Leader of the Opposition from 1994 to 1997, Tánaiste and Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht from November 1994 to December 1994, Deputy Leader of Fianna Fáil from 1992 to 1994, Minister for Industry and Commerce in January 1993, Minister for Finance from 1991 to 1994, Minister for Labour from 1987 to 1991, Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Department of Defence from March 1982 to December 1982 and Lord Mayor of Dublin from 1986 to 1987. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1977 to 2011.
Bertie Ahern | |
|---|---|
Ahern in 2006 | |
| 11th Taoiseach | |
| In office 26 June 1997 – 7 May 2008 | |
| President |
|
| Tánaiste |
|
| Preceded by | John Bruton |
| Succeeded by | Brian Cowen |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 15 December 1994 – 26 June 1997 | |
| President | Mary Robinson |
| Taoiseach | John Bruton |
| Preceded by | John Bruton |
| Succeeded by | John Bruton |
| Leader of Fianna Fáil | |
| In office 19 December 1994 – 7 May 2008 | |
| Deputy |
|
| Preceded by | Albert Reynolds |
| Succeeded by | Brian Cowen |
| Tánaiste | |
| In office 19 November 1994 – 15 December 1994 | |
| Taoiseach | Albert Reynolds |
| Preceded by | Dick Spring |
| Succeeded by | Dick Spring |
| Deputy leader of Fianna Fáil | |
| In office 10 February 1992 – 19 November 1994 | |
| Leader | Albert Reynolds |
| Preceded by | John Wilson |
| Succeeded by | Brian Cowen |
| Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht | |
| In office 19 November 1994 – 15 December 1994 | |
| Taoiseach | Albert Reynolds |
| Preceded by | Michael D. Higgins |
| Succeeded by | Michael D. Higgins |
| Minister for Industry and Commerce | |
| In office 4 January 1993 – 12 January 1993 | |
| Taoiseach | Albert Reynolds |
| Preceded by | Pádraig Flynn |
| Succeeded by | Ruairi Quinn |
| Minister for Finance | |
| In office 14 November 1991 – 15 December 1994 | |
| Taoiseach |
|
| Preceded by | Albert Reynolds |
| Succeeded by | Ruairi Quinn |
| Minister for Labour | |
| In office 10 March 1987 – 14 November 1991 | |
| Taoiseach | Charles Haughey |
| Preceded by | Gemma Hussey |
| Succeeded by | Michael O'Kennedy |
| Minister of State | |
| 1982 | Government Chief Whip |
| 1982 | Defence |
| Lord Mayor of Dublin | |
| In office 24 June 1986 – 26 June 1987 | |
| Preceded by | Jim Tunney |
| Succeeded by | Carmencita Hederman |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office June 1981 – February 2011 | |
| Constituency | Dublin Central |
| In office June 1977 – June 1981 | |
| Constituency | Dublin Finglas |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Bartholomew Patrick Ahern 12 September 1951 Drumcondra, Dublin, Ireland |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil (1965–2012; since 2023) |
| Spouse |
Miriam Kelly
(m. 1975; sep. 1992) |
| Children |
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| Relatives |
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| Alma mater | College of Commerce, Rathmines |
| Signature | |
| † Ahern resigned membership of Fianna Fáil in 2012 following the publication of the final report of the Mahon Tribunal, before rejoining the party in 2023 | |
In 1994, Ahern was elected the sixth Leader of Fianna Fáil. Under Ahern's leadership, Fianna Fáil led three coalition governments. Ahern is the second-longest serving Taoiseach, after Éamon de Valera. Ahern resigned as Taoiseach on 6 May 2008, in the wake of revelations made in Mahon Tribunal, and was succeeded by Minister for Finance Brian Cowen. In 2012, the Mahon Tribunal found that Ahern, while not judged corrupt, had received money from developers and the Tribunal disbelieved his explanations of those payments. Fianna Fáil proposed to expel politicians censured by the tribunal for "conduct unbecoming", but Ahern resigned his membership prior to the expulsion motion being moved.
In November 2016, Fianna Fáil announced that it had given Ahern the option of rejoining the party. He rejoined in February 2023.