商品簡介
Bertie Ahern, three times Irish Taoiseach, is often described as an enigma. He is credited for delivering peace to Northern Ireland as well as ushering in a more progressive, cosmopolitan secular state, yet he is still one of the most polarizing and contentious men in political history. Now, in this frank and revealing autobiography, he discloses for the first time what really happened during his final weeks in power, as well as the toll that having his life?triumphs and scandals alike?played out in the public sphere took on his family and personal life. An ardent nationalist admired by European leaders, Ahern is undoubtedly an indelible presence in Irish history for the role he played in the negotiation of the Belfast agreement, his work with Bill Clinton and Tony Blair on the Good Friday agreement, and his presidency of the European Council in 2004. Here, for the first time, is the truth behind the man who is Bertie.
作者簡介
Now, in this frank and revealing autobiography, Ahern gives his own account of a remarkable political life and the personal story that accompanies it. He shows the cost to his family of a life played out in the public eye and discloses what really happened during his final weeks in power.
Here for the first time is the truth behind the man who is Bertie.
Ahern has been at the cutting edge of Irish politics for over three decades. He was first elected to Dail Eireann in the Fianna Fail landslide victory in 1977 that saw Jack Lynch returned as Taoiseach. In 1982, Charles Haughey appointed him Government Chief Whip. In volatile political times, he strongly supported Haughey during three challenges to his leadership of Fianna Fail.
In 1987, Bertie Ahern received his first cabinet portfolio as Minister for Labour. It was a time when the Irish economy was in crisis. Ireland had a higher debt per head than Ethiopia or Sudan. Unemployment stood at 16 per cent. Ahern negotiated Ireland's first social partnership agreement, which underpinned economic recovery and put in place the foundations for a period of sustained growth. In 1991, he was appointed Minister for Finance. International commentators first began to refer to `Ireland's Tiger economy' in this period. When Bertie Ahern left the Department of Finance in late 1994, for the first time in almost thirty years, Ireland had a budget surplus.
Bertie Ahern succeeded Albert Reynolds as leader of Fianna Fail in November 1994. Following the general election in 1997, he became Ireland's youngest ever Taoiseach. The Ahern era was a time of unprecedented progress in Irish society. Over the course of his tenure in office, Ireland's economy outperformed that of every other European country. For the first time ever, the number of people in employment in the State reached two million.
"Working closely with Bill Clinton and Tony Blair, Ahern won widespread acclaim for his perseverance and skill in negotiating the Good Friday Agreement, which has provided the political framework for a lasting peace in Northern Ireland.
On the international stage, he was a respected figure who enjoyed an acclaimed presidency of the European Council in 2004. He presided over the completion of the largest ever expansion of the EU and concluded negotiations on a European constitution. He is one of only five visiting statesmen to have addressed both the United States Congress and the Houses of Parliament in Westminster.
At home, Ahern enjoyed phenomenal electoral support. He was the first Taoiseach since 1944 to win three successive general elections.
Bertie Ahern resigned on 6 May 2008. He had served for ten years, ten months and ten days as Taoiseach.
In preparing his autobiography Bertie Ahern worked in partnership with UCD historian, Professor Richard Aldous.
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