Ahern, Bertie (1951-…), was prime minister of Ireland from 1997 to 2008. Ireland’s prime minister is called the taoiseach << TEE shok >> . Ahern, the leader of the Fianna Fáil party, became prime minister when his party won the most seats in Ireland’s House of Representatives, also called Dáil Éireann << DAWL AIR uhn >> . In the 2002 parliamentary elections and again in the 2007 elections, Fianna Fáil won the most seats in Dáil Éireann, and Ahern remained as prime minister. In April 2008, Ahern announced his resignation as prime minister and Fianna Fáil leader. Brian Cowen succeeded him in May 2008.
As prime minister, Ahern played an important role in peace talks aimed at ending the violence over Northern Ireland. The talks concluded in 1998 with an agreement that committed all sides to using peaceful means to resolve political differences. See Northern Ireland (The Good Friday Agreement) .
Bartholomew Patrick Ahern was born in Dublin on Sept. 12, 1951. He earned a degree in accounting from University College, Dublin. In 1977, he was elected to the Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament. In 1982, he served as minister of state in the departments of the taoiseach and of defense. In 1986, he was elected to a one-year term as lord mayor of Dublin. From 1987 to 1991, he served as minister for labor. From 1991 to 1994, he held the post of minister of finance. He was chosen leader of his party, Fianna Fáil, in 1994.
