A Political and Economic Dictionary of Western Europe, First Edition
Bertie Ahern has been Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of the Republic of Ireland since June 1997 and was reappointed for his second term of office in June 2002. The government that he heads is a coalition between Fianna Fáil (FF), which he has led since 1994, and the Progressive Democrats (PD). Ahern’s first FF-PD coalition lasted for a full five-year parliamentary term, making it the longest serving government in the history of the Republic. The success of FF-PD coalitions has been attributed to their management of the economy, including Ireland’s entry into the final stages of Economic and Monetary Union, as well as the successful negotiations of the Good Friday Agreement on Northern Ireland with the United Kingdom in 1998.
Born on 12 September 1951 in Dublin, Ahern was educated at University College Dublin and worked as an accountant before entering politics. Ahern was a member of Dublin City Council in 1978–88 and Lord Mayor of the city in 1986–87. First elected to the Dáil Éireann in 1977 for Dublin-Finglas constituency, he has represented Dublin Central since 1981. In the Dáil Ahern was an assistant government whip in 1980–81 and opposition chief whip in 1982–84. He has held a number of ministerial posts, including those of Minister of Labour in 1987–91 and Minister of Finance in 1991–94. Bertie Ahern is separated from his wife, Miriam, and from his long-term partner, Celia Larkin.
Address: Department of the Taoiseach, Government Bldgs, Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2, Ireland
Tel: (0)1 6194020/4021/4043
Fax: (0)1 6764048
E-mail: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie
Internet: www.taoiseach.gov.ie
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