Book description
Bertie Ahern, three times Irish Taoiseach, is often described as an
enigma. The Old IRA man's son who delivered peace in Northern Ireland.
A working class boy responsible for the Celtic Tiger. The man of faith
who ushered in progressive, cosmopolitan secular Ireland. An ardent
nationalist admired by European leaders. 'I know 25 per cent of Bertie
Ahern', said his finance minister, Charlie McCreevy, 'and that's 24
per cent more than anyone else.'
Now in this frank and revealing autobiography, Ahern gives his own
account of a remarkable political life and the personal story that
accompanies it. He shows the cost to his family of a life played out
in the public eye and, for the first time, discloses what really
happened in his final weeks in power.
Here for the first time is the truth behind the man who is Bertie.
Ahern has been at the cutting edge of Irish politics for over three
decades. He was first elected to Dáil à ireann in the Fianna Fáil
landslide victory in 1977 that saw Jack Lynch returned as Taoiseach.
In 1982, Charles Haughey appointed him Government Chief Whip. In
volatile political times, he strongly supported Haughey during three
challenges to his leadership of Fianna Fáil.
In 1987, Bertie Ahern received his first cabinet portfolio as
Minister for Labour. It was a time when the Irish economy was in
crisis. Ireland had a higher debt per head than Ethiopia or Sudan.
Unemployment stood at 16%. Ahern negotiated Ireland's first social
partnership agreement, which underpinned economic recovery and put in
place the foundations for a period of sustained growth. In 1991, he
was appointed Minister for Finance. International commentators first
began to refer to 'Ireland's Tiger economy' in this period. When
Bertie Ahern left the Department of Finance in late 1994, for the
first time in almost 30 years, Ireland had a budget surplus.
Bertie Ahern succeeded Albert Reynolds as leader of Fianna Fáil in
November 1994. Following the General Election in 1997, he became
Ireland's youngest ever Taoiseach. The Ahern Era was a time of
unprecedented progress in Irish society. Over the course of his tenure
in office, Ireland's economy out-performed that of every other
European country. For the first time ever, the number of people in
employment in the State reached 2 million.
Working closely with Bill Clinton and Tony Blair, Ahern won
widespread acclaim for his perseverance and skill in negotiating the
Good Friday Agreement, which has provided the political framework for
a lasting peace in Northern Ireland.
On the international stage, he was a respected figure who enjoyed an
acclaimed Presidency of the European Council in 2004. He presided over
the completion of the largest ever expansion of the EU and concluded
negotiations on a European constitution. He is one of only five
visiting statesmen to have addressed both the United States Congress
and the Houses of Parliament in Westminster.
At home, Ahern enjoyed phenomenal electoral support. He was the
first Taoiseach since 1944 to win three successive General Elections.
Bertie Ahern resigned on 6th May, 2008. He had served for ten years,
ten months and ten days as Taoiseach.
