Bertie Ahern
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"Patrick Bartholomew" ""Bertie"" "Ahern" is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Taoiseach of Republic of Ireland/Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008.

Ahern served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1977 to 2011 and he represented the constituency of Dublin Central (Dáil Éireann constituency)/Dublin Central. Before he became Taoiseach, he served in the governments of Charles Haughey and Albert Reynolds as Minister for Labour (1987–91) and Minister for Finance (Ireland)/Minister for Finance (1991–94). He also served briefly as Tánaiste after the break-up of Albert Reynolds' coalition government.

In 1994, Ahern was elected sixth leader of Fianna Fáil. Under Ahern's leadership Fianna Fáil led #Governments/three coalition governments. After Éamon de Valera, Bertie Ahern's term as Taoiseach is the longest. Ahern resigned as Taoiseach on 6 May 2008, in the wake of revelations made in Mahon Tribunal, and was succeeded by the then Minister for Finance Brian Cowen.

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The result is clear, the government is deeply disappointed by the referendum result.

The best, the most skillful, the most devious and the most cunning.

The timing of the bombings was clearly designed to wreak the greatest level of havoc and carnage. They are an attack on the democratic process and cannot be justified by any political cause.

We cannot undo the damage done but we must now also look forward with renewed hope.

Was prepared to take risks for the peace process, risks to secure agreement and risks to implement it.

Many believed this day would never come and many would say it should have happened a long time ago but it has now come about.

This is not good. The meeting was bad. Relations were bad. It was very hostile, even bitter... I don't like to see grown men bickering.

It's a landmark development. It's of real historic significance. We are enormously relieved that we can finally close this difficult chapter of the peace process.

We have a duty to work now to build a better Ireland. An Ireland that is a warm home for everybody who lives here.