Ahern appointment - A suitable candidate

The appointment of former taoiseach Bertie Ahern to the advisory group of the World Economic Forum’s Council on Negotiations and Conflict Resolution is a deserved tribute to the seminal role that he played in helping cement the peace process in Northern Ireland.

He joins another of the architects of that peace process, George Mitchell, along with former presidents Jimmy Carter of the US and Marti Ahtisaari of Finland.

Although the downturn in the economy may prompt some questions about Mr Ahern’s economic judgment, his record in the area of conflict resolution is exemplary.