Ahern To Step Down As Taoiseach

Denies Any Financial Wrongdoing

Irish premier Bertie Ahern announced that he is to step down as Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil on May 6th last Wednesday.

The move comes amid mounting pressure about his personal finances, but Mr Ahern said he was proud of his political achievements but denied any wrongdoing in relation to his personal finances.

Flanked by cabinet colleagues including Brian Cowen, Martin Cullen, Mary Coughlan, Willie O'Dea, Noel Dempsey, Brian Lenihan and Green Party leader John Gormley, Mr Ahern said a "constant barrage of commentary" was distracting the work of Government.

The Taoiseach had been set to come under pressure in Dáil that afternoon as the Opposition parties sought an explanation for evidence given to the Mahon tribunal by his former secretary.

The Opposition pressed him on the sterling payments lodged to his Irish Permanent building society account by Gráinne Carruth.

Fine Gael and the Labour Party had earlier called on Mr Ahern make a statement about his financial affairs.

The total value of lodgements and other transactions that have to date been queried by the tribunal in its public inquiries into Mr Ahern's finances, exceeds £452,800 ($USD 675,000).

The lodgements and transactions occurred between 1988 and 1997, although the vast bulk of the money was lodged in the period to 1995.

The total is the equivalent of $1.3 million in today's terms, applying the consumer price index in Ireland for the period 1994 to 2008.

The total excludes lodgements where the tribunal has been shown the money was transferred from one bank account to another, but includes such lodgements where neither Mr Ahern nor the tribunal have been able to find independent confirmation as to what occurred.

Reaction to his decision came fast-and-furious. Irish President Mary McAleese said, "His contributions to our thriving economy and to peace in Northern Ireland were hugely important and he deserves every credit for the work he has done.

"Bertie Ahern will be remembered as one of the outstanding politicians of his generation both nationally and internationally."

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was full of praise for the outgoing Taoiseach, saying, "Bertie Ahern has been an outstanding statesman, and has made an historic contribution in helping to bring peace to Northern Ireland, transforming Ireland's relationship with the UK, and playing a key role in the development of a forward looking and dynamic Europe. The UK could not have had a better partner."

Even DUP Leader and Northern First Minister Dr. Ian Paisley was full of praise, saying that, "In sharp contrast with other Irish prime ministers, I enjoyed a good working relationship with Mr Ahern because he was willing to recognise the position of the unionist population that they had no interest in being part of a united Ireland. "What they wanted to see was mutual co-operation when it worked to the benefit of both Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.

"He and I operated as equals, not as one trying to assimilate the other."

Tanaiste Brian Cowen, T.D. is expected to be the next leader of Fianna Fail and succeed Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach.