Chemistry - Dermot Ahern

Dermot Ahern (born February 1955) is a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He is currently a Teachta Dála for Louth and Minister for Foreign Affairs. Ahern has previously served as Minister for Community, Social & Family Affairs (1997-2002) and Minister for Communications, Marine & Natural Resources (2002-2004).

Ahern was born in Drogheda, County Louth and was educated at the Marist College, Dundalk and University College Dublin. He qualified with a degree in law from the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland. Ahern was elected to Louth County Council as a Fianna Fáil representative in 1979 and served there until 1991. Ahern was elected to Dáil Éireann in 1987 and progressed up the ranks. The following year he was appointed Assistant Government Chief Whip and in 1991 was promoted to Government Chief Whip. Later that year Albert Reynolds failed in his attempt to oust Charles Haughey as Taoiseach. Ahern supported Haughey and his loyalty was rewarded by being appointed Minister of State at the Departments of an Taoiseach and Defence.

In February 1992 Reynolds eventually succeeded Haughey. As a result Ahern lost his ministerial position and returned to the backbenches. In 1994 Bertie Ahern (no relation) became leader of the Party and Ahern once again returned to the senior ranks of Fianna Fáil. In 1997 Ahern was sent to London to check out rumours that Ray Burke had received a payment from Joseph Murphy. The claim was denied and Burke was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs two days later. Ahern was appointed Minister for Community, Social & Family Affairs. He worked hard in this portfolio and secured more funds for his department due to the sale of Telecom Éireann. Following the general election in 2002 Ahern was appointed Minister for Communications, Marine & Natural Resources.

Ahern is generally described as being an excellent minister and is regarded as possibly being a future leader of the Fianna Fáil Party. Ahern was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs when the Taoiseach announced his new Cabinet on September 29, 2004, after much speculation about who would take this position.

In April 2005 Ahern was appointed one of four special envoys for United Nations reform by the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan. In effect the four envoys will act as Mr Annan's 'eyes and ears' around the world, presenting proposals for reform in the run-up to a special UN summit in September. Ahern will act as envoy to European countries, on top of his other duties as minister.

Categories: 1955 births | Irish Ministers for Foreign Affairs | Irish politicians