Taoiseach to resign on 6 May

[Enver]

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has announced that he will tender his resignation to President Mary McAleese on 6 May.

He said the decision he was announcing today was solely motivated by what is in the best interests of the people.

He said it was solely personal decision.

Mr Ahern insisted he had never put personal interest above the public good.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0402/ahernb.html

[Gareth]

That's sad. End of an era. Prepare for Irish politics to get a whole lot more boring. It's nearly as bad as the loss of Joe Higgins and Michael McDowell.

[An Céachta Dearg]

And not before time.

[bay]

It's always a big deal when a political leader of his stature resigns, but educate me about the implications for ireland

[Gareth]

It's always a big deal when a political leader of his stature resigns, but educate me about the implications for ireland

Prepare to hear a lot of biased opinions. I will let some of the others go first and then respond :p

[bay]

Well, help me out here, redplough? Larkin????? teach me.

[An Céachta Dearg]

Well, help me out here, redplough? Larkin????? teach me.

Bertie Ahern leader of Fianna Fail and the Irish government over the course of the past eleven years. Where to start. His greatest achievements will probably go down as the GFA but also the misconception that he helped kickstart the Celtic Tiger economy Ireland has enjoyed over the past decade.
Of course our health system is worse than when he found it, As is the social security system. Class sizes havent been reduced since 1999. The Irish education is underfunded. A man who proposes to lead Ireland into the Lisbon Treaty without a second thought.

Other than that during his time as finance minister under Albert Reynolds and Charlie Haughey(he learned his skills from a master), Bertie was found to be taking brown envolope payments. Of course the Mahon Tribunal is still sitting and therefoe we do not know the full extent of the back handers or the tax evasion but we will in due time.