伯蒂·埃亨

生平

埃亨从1977年开始担任爱尔兰下议院议员(Teachta Dála，TD)，代表都柏林中部选区(Dáil Éireann)。他在查尔斯·豪伊的第三度总理任期及艾伯特·雷诺兹担任总理时曾任劳工部长(1987年至1991年)及财政部长 (1991年至1994年)。在雷诺兹的联合政府倒台后，曾短暂担任爱尔兰副总理(Tánaiste)。1994年，获选为爱尔兰共和党第六任领袖。

2008年，有传媒指控埃亨在1990年代中期担任财长期间，曾经非法收受贿款。4月2日，埃亨召开记者招待会，承认近期外界对他个人财产上的批评使政府工作遭到了严重影响，并宣布将在5月6日辞去总理及党领袖的职务。

Bartholomew Patrick "Bertie" Ahern (born 12 September 1951) 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. He was also Lord Mayor of Dublin from 1986 to 1987, Tánaiste from November to December 1994, and Minister for Finance from 1991 to 1994.

Fianna Fáil led three coalition governments under Ahern's leadership; he is the second-longest serving Taoiseach, after Éamon de Valera. He resigned as Taoiseach on 6 May 2008, in the wake of revelations made by the Mahon Tribunal over payments received from developers; he was succeeded by Brian Cowen. Fianna Fáil proposed to expel politicians censured by the tribunal, but Ahern resigned his membership prior to the expulsion motion. In 2016, Fianna Fáil announced that it had given Ahern the option of rejoining the party. He rejoined in February 2023.

Early life

Ahern was born in Drumcondra, Dublin, the youngest of five children of Con and Julia (née Hourihane) Ahern, both natives of County Cork, who married in October 1937. They settled at Church Avenue, Drumcondra, where they resided for the rest of their lives.……

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.……

Cabinet career

Minister for Labour

In 1987, Fianna Fáil returned to power as a minority government. Ahern was appointed to cabinet as Minister for Labour. In the following years, the department was important in stimulating Ireland's ailing economy.……

Minister for Finance

In November 1991, Reynolds, then Minister for Finance, launched a leadership challenge to Haughey.……

Leader of Fianna Fáil

Ahern succeeded Reynolds as the leader; the first unopposed candidate since Seán Lemass in 1959. Ahern was elected as the sixth leader of Fianna Fáil on 19 December 1994.

Negotiations for a resumption of government with the Labour Party began immediately.……

Tenure as Taoiseach

First term (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 and as a Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs. This was unconstitutional as one Minister cannot be subordinate to another.

Peace process

A significant achievement of Ahern's first term was his part in the negotiation of 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.……

Political views

Ahern led Fianna Fáil as a pragmatic catch‐all party rather than as an ideologue, once stating "I'm not big into ideology because I think that people that are into the ideology spend their time talking about it rather than doing it".……

Economics

Economically, Ahern presided over rapid growth as part of the Celtic Tiger Era in Ireland.……

Controversies

In a November 2009, interview with VIP magazine, Ahern spoke of how critics who blame the government for the economic crisis should "dig the garden or grow bluebells or do something useful".……

Payments scandal

Ahern was investigated by the Mahon Tribunal, following an allegation by Tom Gilmartin, that Ahern had been paid money by Owen O'Callaghan in return for favours.……

Admission of undeclared payments

Ahern was criticised by the Moriarty Tribunal for signing blank cheques for the Taoiseach Charles Haughey, without asking what those cheques were for.……

Public image

Ahern's presentational style has been described as Bertiespeak.

Retirement from politics

On 30 December 2010, in a speech to his party cumann in the Dublin Central constituency, he announced that he would not be contesting the 2011 general election.

Ahern said he had made it clear as far back as 2002, that it was always his plan to step down as a TD before he was 60.

Legacy

Historian John A. Murphy said: "Did Ahern, in his 11 years of power, make the most of this unprecedented prosperity for the public benefit? The answer can hardly be positive, given the present state of health, education and infrastructure, generally."

Post-political activities

While still a TD but having resigned as Taoiseach, Ahern was appointed to an international advisory group on conflict resolution on 14 July 2008. In addition Ahern serves as a board member of the peace and reconciliation charity Co-operation Ireland.

Personal life

Family

In 1972, Ahern met Miriam Kelly, a bank official who lived near the Aherns' family home. They were married in St. Columba's Church, Iona Road in 1975. Ahern has two daughters from his marriage: Georgina and Cecelia. Georgina married Nicky Byrne, a member of the pop group Westlife.……

Religious faith

Ahern is a practising Roman Catholic.……

Governments

The following governments were led by Ahern:

25th government of Ireland (June 1997 – June 2002)

26th government of Ireland (June 2002 – June 2007)

27th government of Ireland (June 2007 – May 2008)