Bertie Ahern

Patrick Bartholemew Ahern (Better known as Bertie Ahern) is the longest serving Taoiseach in the history of the Irish State. Ahern has served as the tenth Taoiseach since 26 June 1997. He currently leads the coalition government of Fianna Fáil, the Green Party, Progressive Democrats and a few independant TDs.

Bertie has been a TD (Teachta Dála, ie, 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 after the break-up of Albert Reynolds' coalition government. In 1994 he was elected sixth leader of Fianna Fáil.