Teflon Taoiseach - Still a widely liked Irish leader

Bertie Ahern has been the second longest head of government since the foundation of the State. Eamon de Valera was head of government for 16 years from 1932 until 1948, and also two other periods as taoiseach in the 1950s. The next longest serving taoiseach was Jack Lynch, whose two terms extended over almost nine years with a four-year break in between.

Mr Ahern has the added distinction of leading the first coalition government to be returned to office. Like Seán Lemass he never enjoyed an overall majority, but he was able to form stable governments. It is too early to determine how history will see the balance sheet of his achievements, but there is no doubt that the country has enjoyed unprecedented prosperity during his period of office.

His great forte has undoubtedly been as a conciliator and his greatest legacy will probably be seen as his role in helping to implement the peace process. His term of office was marked by the greatest atrocity of the Troubles, the Omagh bombing. Against the backdrop of that outrage, his achievements appear all the greater.