Bertie Ahern
Patrick Bartholemew Ahern (better known as Bertie Ahern) is the longest serving Taoiseach in the history of Ireland. Ahern has served as the tenth Taoiseach since 26 June 1997. He currently leads the 30th Dáil's coalition government of Fianna Fáil, the Green Party, Progressive Democrats and a few independent TDs.
Ahern has been a TD (Teachta Dála (Member of Parliament) since 1977 representing the Dublin Central constituency. He served as Minister for Labour (1987 - 1991) in the government of Charles Haughey, served as Minister for Finance (1991 - 1994) under the government of Albert Reynolds and he also served briefly as acting Tánaiste, or deputy prime minister, after the break-up of Albert Reynolds' coalition government. In 1994 he was elected sixth leader of Fianna Fáil.
Controversies
The Moriarty Tribunal
The Moriarty Tribunal - officially named the "Tribunal of Inquiry into Payments to Politicians and Related Matters" - was established by the Irish Government in 1997 to examine the financial affairs of former Taoiseach Charles Haughey and politician Michael Lowry.[1] The tribunal is still ongoing. Its first report was published in December 2006. The report contained strong criticism of Ahern for his practice of signing blank cheques for the then party leader, Haughey.[2]
Resignation
External links
References
- ↑ Moriarty Tribunal - Terms of Reference. Available: http://www.moriarty-tribunal.ie/asp/displayall.asp?ObjectID=310&Mode=0&RecordID=1 Accessed: 2nd April, 2008.
- ↑ Report of the Tribunal, Part 1. Available: http://www.moriarty-tribunal.ie/images/SITECONTENT_26.pdf Accessed: 2nd April, 2008.