Bertie Ahern: Perbedaan antara revisi
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Baris 1:
'''Patrick
Ahern has been a [[Teachta Dála]] (
Pada Mei 2007, partai Fianna Fáil yang dipimpinnya memenangi pemilu. Kemenangan itu memperpanjang jabatan perdana menteri untuk ketiga kalinya. Fianna Fáil memperoleh 41,6 persen suara dan diperkirakan bisa meraih 78 kursi di [[Dail]] (Majelis Rendah di Parlemen). Untuk memegang mayoritas 83 suara dari 166 kursi di parlemen, Fianna Fáil harus memperoleh lima kursi lagi.
Ahern membuktikan dirinya sebagai seorang pengumpul suara yang fenomenal. Ia dipuji karena keberhasilan pembangunan ekonomi. Dunia internasional juga memuji karena kontribusinya dalam memperbaiki pemerintahan di Irlandia.
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== Early and private life ==
Ahern was born in [[Drumcondra, Dublin]]. This is an area within his Dublin Central constituency where he has lived all his life. His father Con, a native of [[County Cork]], fought in the [[Irish War of Independence|War of Independence]] and in the [[Irish Civil War|Civil War]]. Ahern's father was a supporter of [[Éamon de Valera]] and the Anti-[[Anglo-Irish Treaty|Treaty]] [[Irish Republican Army (1922-1969)|IRA]]. His mother, Julia, was also a native of [[County Cork]]. His Father was a supporter of the '[[Old IRA]]' for decades after the War of Independence. Ahern claims he can remember guns being hidden around the house, and the [[Garda Síochána]] coming to question his father when he was a child. Ahern was educated at St. Patrick's National School in Drumcondra, [http://www.staidanscbs.com St. Aidan's Christian Brothers in Whitehall], and [[Dublin Institute of Technology]]. He has also claimed, or it was claimed by others on his behalf in circulated biographies, that he was educated at [[University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin|University College Dublin]] and the [[London School of Economics]] institution. He worked in the Accounts Department of the [[Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin|Mater Hospital, Dublin]], from where he is still technically on a [[career break]]{{Fact|date=February 2007}}. He has often been described, and has referred to himself, as an accountant. As there is currently no legal definition in Ireland of the term ''accountant'' this is technically correct. But he is not a qualified chartered, certified or public accountant. On the [[8 October]], [[2006]] the Irish News of the World described him as 'an accounts clerk.' [http://www.newsint.co.uk].
By 1972 Ahern had met his future wife, Miriam Kelly, a bank official who lived near to the Aherns. Ahern and Kelly married in 1975. Ahern has two daughters from his marriage: [[Georgina Ahern|Georgina]] and [[Cecelia Ahern|Cecelia]]. The former is the wife of [[Westlife]] member [[Nicky Byrne]] and the latter a best-selling author of [[romance novel]]s. The pressure of being [[Lord Mayor of Dublin]] in 1986 allied to the stresses involved with holding a Cabinet position contributed to the separation of Ahern and his wife in 1992. They remain on good terms despite a protracted court battle on the terms of separation. Until 2003, Ahern maintained a relationship with [[Celia Larkin]], a [[Fianna Fáil]] activist whom he met in the 1980s. In April 2007 Ahern became a grandfather to fraternal twins Rocco Bertie and Jay Nicholas Byrne, sons of Georgina and Nicky Byrne.
Ahern is a practising [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]]. He visited [[Lourdes]] twice with his late mother and attends Mass every Saturday evening{{Fact|date=February 2007}} in [[St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral]] in Dublin. However, he was publicly criticised by the then [[Primate of Ireland|Archbishop of Dublin]] [[Desmond Cardinal Connell]] for the public nature of his relationship with Celia Larkin. In the Archbishop's view, a separated father living with a woman other than his wife was a bad example to young people aspiring to a leadership position. Larkin was appointed to the board of the National Consumer Agency in July 2005, on the recommendation of Ahern's department.
Ahern is an avid sports fan. He is a keen supporter of [[Dublin GAA]] teams and [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] football club. He attends matches at [[Croke Park]], Old Trafford and rugby matches at [[Lansdowne Road]] regularly.
His brothers [[Noel Ahern]] and [[Maurice Ahern]] are also active in politics.
== Early political career ==
Ahern first became involved in a Fianna Fáil [[by-election]] campaign in 1965, climbing lamp posts to hang election posters in Drumcondra. During the campaign, Ahern met his political mentor and future Taoiseach, [[Charles Haughey]]. Ahern became a member of [[Fianna Fáil]] at the age of 17, and in the [[Irish general election, 1969|1969 General Election]] he helped in the election campaign in his constituency.
Ahern's first run for elected office was during the [[Landslide victory|landslide]] [[Irish general election, 1977|1977 General Election]], when Fianna Fáil formed the last single-party government with a 20-seat [[Dáil Éireann|Dáil]] majority, the largest ever. Ahern received 4,000 first preference votes in the newly created [[Dublin Finglas (Dáil Éireann constituency)|Dublin Finglas constituency]] and was elected with transfers from other candidates. In subsequent elections Ahern became one of the highest vote-getters in the country.
During his first years as a Teachta Dála (TD), Ahern was an anonymous backbencher, but did display ambition. In 1979 when Charles Haughey and [[George Colley]], both constituency colleagues, fought a divisive battle for the position of party leader and Taoiseach, Ahern is believed to have backed Haughey. Ahern had served on a health committee with Haughey in the mid-1970s. Following Haughey's victory, Ahern was appointed [[Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach|Assistant-Government Chief Whip]].
In 1980, due to the illness of the actual Chief Whip, [[Seán Moore (Irish politician)|Seán Moore]], he was effectively running the office. Ahern increased his personal vote in all three general elections of 1981 and 1982, even out-polling<ref>http://www.electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1981&cons=85</Ref> his running mate, George Colley, previously a candidate for Taoiseach. In the short-lived Fianna Fáil government of 1982 Ahern served as Government Chief Whip. Fianna Fáil were then consigned to the opposition benches for five years. During this period Ahern became Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Labour and, in 1986, [[Lord Mayor of Dublin]].
== Cabinet career ==
=== Minister for Labour ===
In 1987 Fianna Fáil returned to power as a minority government. Ahern became [[Minister for Labour (Ireland)|Minister for Labour]], not considered an important portfolio. In the following years, however, the department was important in stimulating Ireland's ailing economy. Haughey, [[Albert Reynolds]] and [[Ray MacSharry]] were involved in negotiating with trade unions and in making a national economic agreement. 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 the elusive overall majority which had evaded him so far. However, Fianna Fáil, while increasing its share of the vote, actually lost seats. Fianna Fáil was forced into coalition government to retain power. The [[Progressive Democrats]] seemed the most likely partners and negotiations were led by [[Albert Reynolds]] and Ahern. Coalition was abhorrent to some members of Fianna Fáil and the negotiations were criticised. This prompted Ahern to quote [[John F. Kennedy]]: "We will not negotiate through fear, but we will never fear to negotiate." A coalition was formed with Ahern returning as Minister for Labour again.
=== Presidential election 1990===
In 1990 Ahern was campaign manager for the [[Irish presidential election, 1990|presidential bid]] of his cabinet colleague, [[Brian Lenihan]]. It proved to be Ahern's least successful campaign as the apparently unbeatable Lenihan lost to the [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]]'s [[Mary Robinson]].
Controversy surrounded the revelation that Lenihan's public version of an incident involving the outgoing [[President of Ireland|President]] contradicted the version told earlier to a journalist. Ahern's revelation, whether deliberate or accidental, that the journalist was [[Jim Duffy (author)|Jim Duffy]], lead to the reluctant release of a portion of the original interview. In the aftermath, Lenihan was sacked from the 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 a presidential election.
In 1991 the Fianna Fáil/Progressive Democrats programme for government was reviewed. 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 skilful, the most devious, the most cunning of them all."<ref name=devious>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5398736.stm Profile: Bertie Ahern] – ''[[BBC News]]'' profile, [[2 October]], [[2006]].</ref>
=== Minister for Finance ===
In November 1991, Reynolds, then [[Minister for Finance (Ireland)|Minister for Finance]], launched a leadership challenge to Haughey. Ahern publicly backed Haughey. <ref>Haughey was forced to retire in 1992 by revelations, of his complicity in phone tappings of journalists made by [[Seán Doherty (politician)|Seán Doherty]].</ref> The challenge failed and Reynolds and his supporters were dismissed from the Cabinet. In the reshuffle that followed Ahern became Minister for Finance.
=== Reynolds succeeds ===
In early 1992 Charles Haughey resigned. Ahern was encouraged by Haughey and others to bid for the position. He was apprehensive, however, and remained out of the contest, allowing Reynolds to become party leader and Taoiseach. It is believed that Reynolds and Ahern struck a deal in which Ahern would withdraw and thus remain in the Cabinet, to succeed subsequently. 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 [[Irish General Election, 1992|1992 General Election]] Fianna Fáil formed a coalition government with the Labour Party. This lasted until 1994 when Labour withdrew from government due to unhappiness with Reynolds's proposed candidate for President of the High Court. Ahern briefly succeeded Labour leader [[Dick Spring]] as acting Tánaiste. However the government fell and Reynolds resigned as Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader.
During 1993, while he was Finance Minister, Ahern accepted payments of IR £39,000 from various businessmen: [[Bertie Ahern#Admission of undeclared payments|see below]] for details. These payments did not become public knowledge until 2006.
He is also under scrutiny from the [[Mahon Tribunal]] for this cash payment and subsequent revelations in May 2007 of cash received from businessman Micheál Wall.
== Leader of Fianna Fáil ==
Ahern succeeded Reynolds as leader; the first unopposed candidate since [[Seán Lemass]] in 1959.<ref>Former Justice Minister [[Máire Geoghegan-Quinn]] briefly sought candidature.</ref> Ahern was elected as the sixth leader of Fianna Fáil on [[November 17]], [[1994]].
Negotiations for a resumption of Government with the Labour Party began immediately. It was expected that the coalition would continue and that Ahern would become Taoiseach. However, due to new revelations{{Fact|date=February 2007}}, the Labour leader withdrew from coalition and Ahern found himself as [[Leader of the Opposition (Ireland)|Leader of the Opposition]].
In the [[Irish general election, 1997|1997 general election]] Fianna Fáil's campaign centered on Ahern's personal popularity. The party gained seats and formed a coalition government with the Progressive Democrats, with the support of four Independent TDs. On 26 June, 1997, aged 45, Ahern became the [[List of Taoisigh by important facts#By age on assuming/leaving office|youngest ever]] Taoiseach.
== Taoiseach 1997–2002==
=== Early issues ===
Ahern's first government saw some teething problems during its first six months.
Firstly, Ahern tried to nominate [[David Andrews]] as [[Minister for Defence (Ireland)|Minister for Defence]] and as [[Minister of State (Ireland)|Junior Minister]] at the [[Department of Foreign Affairs (Ireland)|Department of Foreign Affairs]]. This was unconstitutional as one minister cannot be subordinate to another. Ahern was forced to retreat.
Secondly, in July, [[Charles Haughey]] gave evidence to the [[McCracken Tribunal]] on corruption confirming that he had received IR£1.3 million (€1.7 million) in gifts from businessman [[Ben Dunne]], which he had previously denied. This damaged Haughey's reputation more than the Government's.
Thirdly, earlier allegations resurfaced about Ahern's Foreign Minister, [[Ray Burke]]. Burke eventually admitted to receiving IR£30,000 (€38,000) in a corrupt payment and was forced to resign. Arising from those two matters, the government established the [[Moriarty Tribunal]] and the [[Flood Tribunal]].<ref>The culture of potentially corrupt payments to politicians has continued from that era. In September 2006, details of financial support provided to Ahern by businessmen in 1993 and 1994, both in Ireland and England, emerged leading to strains in the coalition Government. [http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0926/ahernb.html Taoiseach details payments of IR£39,000]</ref>
One of the high points of the first six months was the renewal of the [[Provisional Irish Republican Army|Provisional IRA]] ceasefire, which paved the way for resumed negotiations in [[Northern Ireland]].
=== Presidential election 1997===
Another controversy during Ahern's first term in office was the selection of the Fianna Fáil candidate to contest the [[Irish presidential election, 1997|Presidential elections of 1997]]. A strong candidate was needed to defeat the ground-breaking [[Mary Robinson|Robinson]] presidency. Also, the party was still sensitive{{Fact|date=February 2007}} to the loss of the [[Irish presidential election, 1990|1990 election]]. Former Taoiseach Reynolds, seen as having made{{Fact|date=February 2007}} significant contributions to the establishment of the [[Northern Ireland peace process]], and former Foreign Minister [[Michael O'Kennedy]] both showed interest in the nomination. Ahern, it is alleged {{Fact|date=February 2007}}, had promised Reynolds his support if Reynolds first ran in the 1997 General Election. However a relatively unknown party activist, [[Mary McAleese]], also sought the nomination. In a meeting of ministers, Ahern gave an ambiguous speech{{Fact|date=February 2007}} which seemed to encourage his Cabinet to support McAleese. McAleese was selected by Fianna Fáil and subsequently elected as the eighth [[President of Ireland]]. Reynolds was humiliated.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}
=== Peace process ===
A significant achievement of Ahern's first term was his part in the negotiation of the Belfast Agreement, commonly called the [[Good Friday Agreement]], in which the British and Irish Governments and most Northern Irish political parties established an "exclusively peaceful and democratic" framework for power-sharing in [[Northern Ireland]]. The agreement was signed on [[April 10]], [[1998]]. It was seen as something special because not only was it endorsed by the political parties, it was endorsed also by the British and Irish governments and the people of the Republic and Northern Ireland.
Though the agreement has yet to be implemented in full, the ceasefires and political structures it created have encouraged peace. The negotiations also led to his friendship with the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|British Prime Minister]], [[Tony Blair]]. On [[November 26]], [[1998]] Blair became the first Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to address [[Dáil Éireann]].
=== Economy===
Many claim{{Fact|date=February 2007}} that Ahern's management of the economy during his first term in office, allied to the free market policies of his coalition partners, the [[Progressive Democrats]], helped ignite{{Fact|date=February 2007}} the Celtic Tiger. Increased prosperity and a better standard of living were the main results of the ''[[Celtic Tiger]]'' economy. The good economic conditions allowed his Minister for Finance, [[Charlie McCreevy]], to deliver several generous budgets.
Another achievement was Ireland's vigilant and swift reaction to the [[2001 UK foot and mouth crisis|2001 Foot & Mouth Disease Crisis]]. Only a handful of cases were discovered in Ireland and the government was generally praised{{Fact|date=February 2007}} for their intervention. A major outbreak could have led to the collapse of Ireland's agriculture industry.
=== General Election 2002===
The [[Government of the 28th Dáil|28th Dáil]] served its full term becoming the 2nd longest Dáil to complete a full term. The coalition of Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrats was re-elected with an increased majority in the [[Irish general election, 2002|2002 General Election]] on [[May 17]]. Fianna Fáil had hoped for a majority, but remained three seats short of the 84 required. The coalition Government returned to power, the first time a Government had been re-elected since [[Jack Lynch]]'s in 1969. Additionally, the opposition [[Fine Gael]] party suffered substantial losses. The significant election victory was seen{{Fact|date=February 2007}} as a vote of confidence in the Government and its policies.
== Taoiseach 2002–2007 ==
[[Image:BushBlairAhern.jpg|right|350px|thumb|[[President of the United States|US President]] [[George W. Bush]], [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|UK Prime Minister]] [[Tony Blair]], and Ahern at [[Hillsborough Castle]] in [[Northern Ireland]] on [[April 8]], [[2003]].]]
Controversy
The
[[Image:bertie ahern with bush.jpg|left|thumb|320px|[[President of the United States|President]] [[George W. Bush]] accepts a bowl of shamrock from
The unpopular phase seemed short-lived as the government rearranged its priorities and
In November 2004, Ahern celebrated ten years as leader of Fianna Fáil. In April 2006, he became the [[List of Taoisigh by important facts|second longest serving]] Taoiseach, after [[Éamon de Valera]].
One of Ahern's achievements in 2004 was his [[Presidency of the Council of the European Union|Presidency of the European Council]] [http://www.eu2004.ie], during which EU leaders agreed a [[Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe|European Constitution]], there was recovery in EU-US relations, the EU formally admitted [[History of the European Union#The 2004 enlargement|10 new members]], and selected [[José Manuel Durão Barroso]] as next [[President of the European Commission]]. Briefly, it appeared{{Fact|date=February 2007}} as if Ahern himself might become President of the Commission, however, he declined in favour of domestic politics. The treaty was subsequently defeated in referenda in the [[Netherlands]] and [[France]].
Ahern's government spent €52 million on the Nedap [[Electronic voting in Ireland|Electronic Voting]] system. This was challenged as being insecure and could have been tampered with in order to change results.<ref> It was later withdrawn and a Commission on Electronic Voting was appointed to examine its design and implementation and operation. This commission in July 2006 said that it could not approve[http://www.cev.ie/htm/report/download_second.htm] the proposed vote counting software.</ref>
The [[Moriarty Tribunal|Moriarty Tribunal]] [http://www.moriarty-tribunal.ie/images/sitecontent_26.pdf] reporting in December 2006, criticised Ahern for having signed blank cheques for the then party leader [[Charles Haughey]], who misappropriated taxpayers' funds for personal use. The disbursement of funds to [[Fianna Fáil]] and their investigation by the tribunal have raised questions
of the involvement of Ahern in the administration of these funds. [http://www.sbpost.ie/post/pages/p/story.aspx-qqqt=VINCENT+BROWNE-qqqs=commentandanalysis-qqqid=19781-qqqx=1.asp FF money trail leaves many questions unanswered]
In May 2007 he became the first Irish leader to address a joint session of the [[UK Parliament]] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/6656177.stm]
=== General election 2007 ===
Ahern hoped to win a third general election in 2007 while opinion polls, in April 2007, suggested that this was improbable. [http://www.sbpost.ie/post/pages/p/story.aspx-qqqt=NEWS-qqqs=news-qqqid=22937-qqqx=1.asp] [http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=1817458&issue_id=15543 FF/PDs to fall short by 10 seats, FG gains]. [http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/frontpage/2007/0427/1177280405061.html Alternative coalition moves ahead of Government parties]. <ref>If re-elected Taoiseach, he would be the second person (after [[Eamon DeValera]]) to hold that office three times in succession. He has stated{{Fact|date=February 2007}} that he hopes to remain in politics until he is 60, whether as Taoiseach, backbencher or otherwise.</ref>
Polls in April 2007 showed his coalition of Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats at 35% and 3% respectively against <ref>[http://www.sbpost.ie/post/pages/p/story.aspx-qqqt=NEWS-qqqs=news-qqqid=22937-qqqx=1.asp Surge for FG as election race hots up]</ref> the Fine Gael/Labour alternative government figure of 38%. A further poll published [[April 27]], <ref>[http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/frontpage/2007/0427/1177280405061.html Alternative coalition moves ahead of Government parties]</ref> shows Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrats at 34% and 3% respectively compared to Fine Gael and Labour at 31% and 10%. A promise by Labour, at their February 2007 party conference of a cut in the basic rate of income tax, paid by 80% of workers, from 20% to 18% created some excitement in political and media circles. Income tax cuts by the FF/PD government had concentrated on the top rate of tax and Labour were able to portray their proposal as progressive to the discomfiture of Fianna Fáil.
Ahern dissolved the [[Dáil]] in April 2007 and called an election for [[24 May]] [[2007]]. Ahern's party received 78 seats a loss of three seats from the 2002 election result. This was regarded as a [[Fianna Fail]] 'victory', as questions about Ahern's finances overshadowed the early part of the election campaign, which threatened to cause huge losses for Ahern's party. His partners in the Government 2002 - 2007, the [[Progressive Democrats]] suffered a reduction in representation from 8 to 2 seats including the loss of their leader.
Requiring 83 votes to return the government, Ahern's options were to attempt to govern with the [[Progressive Democrats]] plus two "gene-pool"<ref>Fianna Fáil expelled members or consistent nominally independent members, who have supported Fianna Fáil continuously in the past.</ref> independents (Jackie Healy-Rae and Beverley Flynn) and one or more of the other three independents ([[Michael Lowry]] (ex [[Fine Gael]]) [[Finian McGrath]] or [[Tony Gregory]]). The other options were an alliance with the [[Green Party (Ireland)|Green Party]] or the [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]]. In the event, Fianna Fáil negotiated a programme for government with the Green Party, and formed a new coalition with the Green Party and the Progressive Democrats, supported by several independents.
== Taoiseach 2007– ==
Following the [[Irish general election, 1997|general election of 2007]] Ahern was elected to a third term as Taoiseach, leading a coalition of Fianna Fáil, the Progressive Democrats and the [[Green Party (Ireland)|Green Party]].
== Controversy ==
=== Admission of undeclared payments===
{{Current-section|date=May 2007}}
Ahern was criticised by the [[Moriarty Tribunal]] for signing blank cheques for the then Taoiseach Charles Haughey, without asking what those cheques were for. Ahern told the tribunal that a policy of signing blank cheques was used on the Fianna Fáil party leader's account for reasons of ''"administrative convenience"''.<ref>[http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=1674031&issue_id=14532 Ahern rapped over blank cheques] – ''[[Sunday Independent]]'' newspaper article, [[20 August]], [[2006]].</ref> In September 2006 ''[[The Irish Times]]'' printed claims allegedly leaked<ref>''The Irish Times'' said its sources are independent of the tribunal.</ref> from [[The Mahon Tribunal]] that Ahern had received money from a millionaire businessman while Minister for Finance in 1993.<br>
The editor of ''The Irish Times'' defended the publication as being in the public interest at a hearing of the tribunal, saying that it was not a party to the Supreme Court case which restrained the ''Sunday Business Post'' from publishing leaked documents. This order was directed against the ''Sunday Business Post'' but its interim order purported to restrain all media outlets from publishing confidential material from the inquiry.
Ahern has admitted that he did receive money but said on being interviewed that:
<blockquote>
''What I got personally in my life, to be frank with you is none of your business. If I got something from somebody as a present or something like that I can use it.''</blockquote>
What Ahern said in 1996, while in opposition:
<blockquote>
''The public are entitled to have an absolute guarantee of the financial probity and integrity of their elected representatives, their officials and above all of Ministers. They need to know that they are under financial obligations to nobody.'' (Dáil Éireann transcript, December 1996)</blockquote>
This contradiction has been criticised in editorials in both the ''Irish Independent'' [http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=44&si=1693811&issue_id=14686] and ''The Irish Times'' [http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/front/2006/0923/1158590929587.html]
Six days after the payments were publicised Ahern admitted in a <ref>[http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=39&si=1695394&issue_id=14693 Crying game...Dobbo's your uncle]</ref> television interview<ref>[http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0926/ahernb.html Taoiseach details payments of IR£39,000]</ref> that he had received two payments totalling IR£39,000 (€50,000) in 1993 and 1994.
Ahern regarded the money as a loan, but he conceded that no repayments had at that time (September 2006) been made and no interest has been paid. He said that he had attempted to repay it, but that his friends would not accept repayment. He claimed that he had ''broken no codes - ethical, tax, legal or otherwise''.
In the same interview, he also admitted to receiving a payment of £8,000 from a group of 25 businessmen in Manchester on one occasion. He claimed that this money was again unsolicited, that it was a gift and therefore not subject to tax as it had been received when abroad, and that it was paid to him after he gave an after-dinner speech at an ''ad hoc'' function. He claimed that the money was given to him as a private citizen, not to him in his then role as Minister for Finance, and that no other payments were received by him after speaking at other similar functions. The Irish Times reported on [[30 September]], [[2006]] that part of this payment was actually a cheque drawn on [[NCB Stockbrokers]], a large Irish company.
A number of his benefactors have received appointments as directors of State boards.<ref>[http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/front/2006/0927/1158591102456.html Ahern to face Dáil questions over €50,000 loan not repaid]</ref>
Insisting that no favours had been offered or received, Ahern said:
<blockquote>''I might have appointed somebody but I appointed them because they were friends, not because of anything they had given me.''</blockquote>
Under the Standards in Public Office Commission's rules,
<blockquote>''State appointments should be made on the basis of merit, taking into account the skills, qualifications and experience of the person to be appointed.''</blockquote>
Members of Dáil Éireann must conduct themselves [http://www.sipo.gov.ie/en/CodesofConduct/TDs/]
<blockquote>''in accordance with the provisions and spirit of the Code of Conduct and ensure that their conduct does not bring the integrity of their office or the Dáil into serious disrepute.''</blockquote>
In the face of negative publicity, Ahern has repaid the monies advanced to him, with 5% interest totaling €90,000.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2091-2383266.html Ahern repays €90,000] – ''The Sunday Times'' newspaper article, [[October 1]], [[2006]].</ref>
On [[October 3]], [[2006]] Ahern made a 15 minute statement in [[Dail Eireann]] defending his actions in taking loans totalling IR£39,000 (€50,000) from friends in Ireland and £8,000 (€11,800) as a gift from businessmen in Manchester in 1993 and 1994.<ref>[http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=aW19rSaswoJs&refer=uk Ahern, Trying to End Irish Crisis, Acknowledges Error]</ref><ref>[http://www.sbpost.ie/breakingnews/breaking_story.asp?j=265490800&p=z6549y75x&n=265491787 Taoiseach apologises for taking cash donations]</ref><ref>[http://www.unison.ie/breakingnews/index.php3?ca=39&si=99356 Taoiseach says sorry for taking cash donations]</ref> In his statement he apologised for the distress his actions had brought saying:
<blockquote>
''The bewilderment caused to the public about recent revelations has been deeply upsetting for me and others near and dear to me. To them, to the Irish people and to this house, I offer my apologies.'' </blockquote>
==='No bank account'===
Further questions were raised about IR£50,000 (€63,300) which he had lodged to his bank account in 1994. He claimed this was money he had saved over a substantial period of time (1987–1994) when he had had no active bank account. During this period he was Minister for Labour and subsequently Minister for Finance. He was asked by the leader of the Labour party, [[Pat Rabbitte]] whether, in the absence of a bank account, he had kept the money in a ''sock in the hot-press'' and by [[Joe Higgins]], the leader of the Socialist Party if he had kept the money ''in a shoe-box''. Ahern replied that he had kept the money ''in his own possession''.
===Payment in relation to house===
On [[October 5]], [[2006]] further information emerged<ref>[http://www.unison.ie/breakingnews/index.php3?ca=39&si=99422 Taoiseach says he paid full market value for Dublin home]</ref> in the Dáil that Ahern had bought his house in Dublin from Manchester based Irish businessman, Micheál Wall, who was at an event in Manchester in 1994 where the Taoiseach received a payment of £8,000 (€11,800). This caused further tensions within the Government coalition parties.
On [[October 10]], [[2006]] the Taoiseach<ref name="expands">[http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/1010/ahernb.html Taoiseach expands upon apology in Dáil]</ref> again told the Dáil that it was an ''error of judgment'' for him to accept loans and gifts for personal purposes in the early 1990s.
Ahern expanded on his apology to the Dáil of the previous week, which he described as unqualified.
Ahern said there would now be a change in the ethics law requiring office holders offered a gift from friends to consult the Standards in Public Office Commission[http://www.sipo.gov.ie/en/CodesofConduct/OfficeHolders/File,729,en.pdf] and to accept their ruling.
===Money from developer===
Allegations had been made that he had taken IR£50,000 (€63,300) from a property developer, Owen O'Callaghan, in return for favours at this time. Ahern won a libel action against a Cork businessman, "Starry" O'Brien, defending himself against this allegation.
In March 2007, one of Ahern's Manchester benefactors,
Paddy 'The Plasterer', was appointed as the Fianna Fail Director of Elections for Ahern's Dublin Central constituency.
In April 2007, it was alleged<ref> [http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=1812604&issue_id=15510 Ahern denies air trip with a case of cash] – ''Sunday Independent'' newspaper article, [[15 April]], [[2007]], Free registration required</ref> in a statement by his former official driver, that Ahern in 1994, while Minister for Finance, took a briefcase full of cash to Manchester. This has been denied by Ahern.
While the payment details initially seemed to damage Ahern's standing, the result of the 2007 General Election indicate that the damage was far from lasting. In April 2007, an opinion poll found that nearly half of voters believe Taoiseach Bertie Ahern still has questions to answer over the payments controversy.<ref>[http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=1817755&issue_id=15544 Payments to Ahern: the questions remain] – ''Irishy Independent'' newspaper article, [[23 April]], [[2007]], Free registration required</ref>
===Payment to refurbish property managed by Celia Larkin===
In May 2007, it emerged that Ahern's then partner, Celia Larkin, received £30,000 from the businessman Micheál Wall to contribute towards the refurbishment of the house that Ahern was to buy later. [http://dynamic.rte.ie/av/news1pm/2244681.smil Questions for Bertie].<ref>[http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=ajvtEJaxu3J8&refer=europe Ireland's Ahern Urged to Disclose Finances in Full]</ref>
== The future ==
[[Image:Martin Ahern.jpg|right|thumb|320px|Then [[Canada|Canadian]] [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]] [[Paul Martin]] with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in 2005.{{ifdc|Image:Martin Ahern.jpg}}]]
Ahern's reputation has been damaged by the revelation of cash gifts received that have transmuted to loans from businessmen. His reputation as the [[Teflon]] Taoiseach (no allegation of unethical behaviour has stuck to him until September 2006) has been damaged. He has been criticised in the foreign press as well as in the Irish media.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2091-2372324.html Tarnished Teflon] – ''The Sunday Times'' newspaper article, [[September 24]], [[2006]].</ref> <br>
<blockquote>''Last week Bertie Ahern was at his most eloquent, speaking through gritted teeth on a subject that threatens to jettison his reputation as the Teflon Taoiseach.''</blockquote>
His coalition partners in Government, the [[Progressive Democrats]], said that he has questions to answer as details of an £8,000 (€11,800) payment for speaking engagements, in Manchester in 1994, emerge. The continuing appearance of details of his appearances in Manchester and the names of those who were present at functions threatened to destabilise his Coalition Government, especially so when it transpired that one of the businessmen Micheál Wall subsequently sold a house to Ahern. The strains in the coalition eased after Ahern apologised for a second time in the Dáil and agreed to tighten up on ethics legislation.<ref name="expands"/>
To the surprise of many observers however, polls taken during and after the crisis indicated a sharp rise in support for the Ahern government and a corresponding fall in support for the Opposition parties. While 55-64% of the public believed that he was wrong to accept the payments, support for his party rose to 39-42%, while support for the main Opposition parties [[Fine Gael]] and [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour]] fell to 20-26% and 10-11%. Two-thirds believed he should not have resigned. The polls provoked complaint from the media.<ref>[http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/1013/poll.html Coalition regains lead over alternative govt.] – ''RTÉ'' website article, [[October 13]], [[2006]].</ref><ref>[http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/1015/poll.html Second poll shows big rise in Ahern's support] – ''RTÉ'' website article, [[October 15]], [[2006]].</ref> The ''[[Irish Times]]'' commented they were a "poor reflection of ourselves". Some commentators however, maintained that they showed the Irish people drew a distinction between the Ahern affair and previous financial scandals involving Irish politicians, both on the basis of sums received and the fact that the Taoiseach had used them to repay loans, rather than for self-enrichment, unlike former Taoiseach Charles Haughey for example.
== Governments ==
*[[Government of the 28th Dáil#25th Government of Ireland|25th Government of Ireland]] (June 1997–June 2002)
*[[Government of the 29th Dáil#26th Government of Ireland|26th Government of Ireland]] (June 2002–June 2007)
*[[Government of the 30th Dáil#27th Government of Ireland|27th Government of Ireland]] (June 2007–present)
== Trivia ==
{{Trivia|date=June 2007}}
*Ahern's difficulties over his acceptance of money from friends, while Minister for Finance has become known<ref>The original phrase ''Water'''gate''''' was the downfall of former U.S. President [[Richard Nixon]]</ref> in the press as "Bertigate" [http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=1701448&issue_id=14736].
* In 2004, [[Joe Higgins]] TD described Ahern's response to questions as "like playing [[Gaelic handball|handball]] against a hay stack. You hear a dull thud but the ball never comes back to you".<ref>[http://home.eircom.net/content/irelandcom/breaking/8313694?view=Eircomnet Higgins feels the new thud of Ahern response]</ref>
* Ahern has been described by disgraced former [[Taoiseach]] [[Charles Haughey]] as ''the best, the most skillful, the most devious and the most cunning of them all''.<ref name=devious/>
* Sport is one of Ahern's passions. He appeared as a pundit on [[RTÉ Two]]'s ''The Premiership'' programme in [[2001]] [http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2001/09/09/story23030.asp].
* As of May 2007, Ahern is the 3rd longest-serving political leader among the 25 [[European Union member states]].<ref>For EU leadership seniority ranking, see list in [[European Council]]. The two more senior are [[Jean-Claude Juncker]] (1995-next election [[Luxembourgian legislative election, 2009|June 2009]]) and [[Tony Blair]] (1997-retirement [[24 June]] 2007)</ref>
* Ahern is one of the main characters portrayed in the spoof radio comic strip [[Gift Grub]]
* Bertie Ahern is a Member of the Comite d'Honneur of the [[Institute of European Affairs]] in Dublin.
* The fortnightly magazine ''[[The Phoenix (magazine)|The Phoenix]]'' features "De Diary of a Nortsoide Taoiseach", a satirical column written from Ahern's point of view in a phonetic transliteration of his broad north Dublin accent.<ref name=phoenix>[http://www.phoenix-magazine.com/phoenix/subscriber/library/volume-24/issue-18/page-19-26.pdf The Phoenix], [[8 September]], [[2006]] and ''passim''.</ref> (subscription required)
*Ahern has been satirised in a purported spoof publication ''Bertie's little book of ethics''.[http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=36&si=1702193&issue_id=14742] (free registration required)
* Ahern is the first Taoiseach to have had a legal separation from his wife.<ref>Ahern had a relationship with Cecilia Larkin for several years. A previous Fianna Fáil Taoiseach, [[Charles Haughey]] had a mistress, [http://www.ireland.com/focus/haughey/ITstories/story13.htm Terry Keane - A very public affair.]</ref>
*A publication of the sayings of Ahern, ''De Little Book of Bertie'' was published in 2007.<ref>ISBN-13: 978-1903582107</ref>
* Ahern is the only Taoiseach whose name in Irish-Language TV and radio programmes is stated as ''An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern'' because it is said Irish people would not recognise Partholan O hEachthairn the literal translation. This has angered many people in Ireland whose Christian name, in everyday speech, is ''Partholan'' or "Bartholomew/Bertie/Bart" in English.
*Bertie Ahern is the father of [[Cecilia Ahern]], a novelist who wrote "P.S. I Love You," "Rosie Dunne," and "If You Could See Me Now"
==Quotes ==
* 'The reason it's on the rise is because probably the boom times are getting even more boomer.' (commenting on rising inflation in the Irish economy)<ref>[http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/front/2006/0714/930304623HM1ECON.html Economic growth shows little sign of letting up] – ''The Irish Times'' newspaper article, [[14 July]], [[2006]].</ref>
* 'I've looked up every tree in north Dublin.' (speaking of his investigations into [[Ray Burke]]'s past)
* 'This is a day we should treasure - a day when agreement and accommodation have replaced days of difference and division.' ([[April 11]], [[1998]] - the day the Good Friday Agreement was signed)
* 'We are not going to apologise for any small role we may have played in helping to remove a dictator who made his people suffer for 20 years, carried out horrific acts and didn't care about democracy. He is gone now, and thank God for that.' (May 2003 - speaking of the war in Iraq and the use of Shannon Airport for US military stopovers)
* 'We were always dead against the war.' (December 2003)
* 'To the people of Europe who are joining us today in the European Union I extend the hand of friendship...Today marks the triumph of your determination and perseverance over the legacy of history. For Europe, today marks the closure of one chapter and the opening of another new and exciting chapter in its long history.' ([[May 1]], [[2004]] - European Union enlargement)
* 'What they were up to in those days were kept for the future. I'm not sure I know how legal it was...but anyway...ha ha ha.' ([[March 15]], [[2005]] - Visiting the [[Tipperary Hill]] Irish neighbourhood in [[Syracuse, New York]])
* 'Throwing white elephants and red herrings at each other.' (a warning he used in the Dáil once).
* 'I never condemn wrongdoing in any area.' ([[22 February]], [[2006]] in the Dáil)
* 'I never condone wrongdoing in any area' ([[22 February]], [[2006]] in the Dáil) (Mr Ahern corrected his slip, above, during the same dialogue.[http://debates.oireachtas.ie/DZoom.aspx?F=DAL20060222.xml&pid=Bertie])
* 'I think that people should be given a fair chance, but if they did something wrong to me I probably wouldn't forgive them'
* 'I think that's so ridiculous I'm not going to even dignify that with an answer!'
* Speaking on Ray Burke<ref>Burke was jailed for six months for tax evasion.</ref> on his resignation;<blockquote>''I always found him to be a proud honourable man, loyal and true, persevering and ''principled'', caring and committed but tough and a person who often lost friends very easily. On behalf of the Government and particularly on behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I thank him for his distinguished years in the service of his constituents and his country.''<ref> Dáil Éireann transcript pre online version.</ref></blockquote>
* 'The public are entitled to have an absolute guarantee of the financial probity and integrity of their elected representatives, their officials and above all of Ministers. They need to know that they are under financial obligations to nobody.' (Dáil Éireann transcript, December 1996)
* 'It is quite unacceptable that a member of Dáil Éireann and in particular a Cabinet Minister and Taoiseach, should be supported in his personal lifestyle by gifts made to him personally.' (Dáil Éireann transcript, September 1997)
* 'I'm not answering what I got for my Holy Communion money, my Confirmation money, what I got for my birthday, what I got for anything else, I'm not into that.' ([[21 September]], [[2006]] responding to questions relating to a leak from [[The Mahon Tribunal]] that they would investigate payments he received in 1993.)-->
==
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