Bertie Ahern

11th Taoiseach of Ireland from 1997 to 2008 · Ireland · On the map · Politicians · Born 1951 · age 75

Bartholomew Patrick "Bertie" Ahern is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as Taoiseach from 1997 to 2008, and as Leader of Fianna Fáil from 1994 to 2008. A Teachta Dála (TD) from 1977 to 2011, he served as Leader of the Opposition from 1994 to 1997.

Bertie Ahern is read about 261 times a day, in 48 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 6 November 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 400 days, one point a day.

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A life in dates

2008“It is not correct, and if I said so, I was not correct - I cannot recall if I said it, but I did not say, or if I did, I did not mean to say it”In their words31 January 2008Straight answers needed to taxing Bertie questions Irish Independent, 2008-01-31.Read the whole statement

2007“Some people dye their hair yellow or put rings in their noses”In their words20 December 2007Explaining to the Mahon Tribunal on 20 December 2007 why he did not have a bank account in 1993. Planning Tribunal TranscriptRead the whole statement

“I don't know how people who engage in that don't commit suicide”In their wordsJuly 2007commenting on people "talking the economy down", just before the crash. Speech at Irish Congress of Trade Unions conference 2007-07-3.Read the whole statement

“Time magazine reported him as speaking of "upsetting the apple tart".”In their words26 April 2007Mr. Popularity Time magazine. 2007-04-26.Read the whole statement

2006“I never condemn wrongdoing in any area”In their words22 February 200622 February, 2006 in the Dáil (Ahern corrected his slip, above, TO "condone" during the same statement.) Leaders' Questions OireachtasRead the whole statement

2004Grand Cross of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke GediminasAward2003Thomas J. Dodd Prize in International Justice and Human RightsAward1996“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.”In their wordsDecember 1996Dáil Éireann transcript, December 1996Read the whole statement

1991Great Cross with Star and Sash of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of GermanyAwardMore about this1951Born12 September 1951

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Photos 8

Ahern shaking hands with then President of the European Commission Jacques Santer in 1997

Ahern with President Bill Clinton in 2000

US President George W. Bush, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Ahern at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland on 8 April 2003.

President George W. Bush accepts a bowl of shamrock from Taoiseach Bertie Ahern during a ceremony celebrating St. Patrick's Day in 2005.

Ahern in 2006

Ahern at the World Economic Forum in Davos, January 2004

Bertie Ahern, 2011

In their own words 4

Bertie Ahern

4 statements, newest first

It was a political donation for my personal use.
21 February 2008 · 21 February 2008 at the Mahon Tribunal, referring to a £5,000 donation. Irish Times report 2008-02-21. (Subscription required), Own words
governments can defer these things for a period and then, as they've previously done, go back and pay it all again. I mean, that's really only playing smokes and daggers with it.
5 November 2007 · refusing to postpone an increase in ministerial salaries, 2007-11-05 (Irish Times 2007-11-06 p.6; Irish Independent 2007-11-06), Own words
The reason it's on the rise is because probably the boom times are getting even more boomer.
14 July 2006 · commenting on rising inflation in the Irish economy. - The Irish Times newspaper article, 14 July, 2006., Own words