Adams pays tribute to Ahern

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has today wished Bertie Ahern and his family well for the future, following the Taoiseach’s resignation today.

“I worked closely with him through the peace process for almost a decade and a half, while he was Opposition leader and then as Taoiseach,” the West Belfast MP said.

“While I was critical at times of the role of the Irish Government, I wish to acknowledge the important contribution Mr Ahern made.

“However, as the Taoiseach acknowledged this morning, politics was becoming increasingly dominated by his personal affairs rather than the issues which are impacting on peoples lives, such as the Lisbon Treaty and the state of the public services.”

Stormont Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said few people had given as much of their time and energy to the peace process as Mr Ahern.

“He has been deeply involved for many years and the personal input that he made was reflected when he came straight from the graveside of his own mother to participate in a particularly delicate stage of the negotiations,” he said.