30 Facts About Dermot Ahern

Dermot Christopher Ahern was born on 20 April 1955 and is an Irish former Fianna Fail politician who served as Minister for Justice and Law Reform from 2008 to 2011, Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2004 to 2008, Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources from 2002 to 2004, Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs from 1997 to 2002 and Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Department of Defence from 1991 to 1992.

Dermot Ahern served as a Teachta Dala for the Louth constituency from 1987 to 2011.

Dermot Ahern was educated at the Marist College in Dundalk and later attended University College Dublin.

Dermot Ahern is a former chairman of Rock Celtic soccer club and was treasurer of Dundalk FC Supporter's Club.

Dermot Ahern was born into a family that had no association with party politics.

Dermot Ahern became involved in politics at a young age and became a member of Louth County Council in 1979 as a Fianna Fail representative.

Dermot Ahern was elected to Dail Eireann at the 1987 general election.

Dermot Ahern, who supported Haughey, was rewarded with the post of Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Department of Defence.

Dermot Ahern became a backbencher for the entire duration of the Fianna Fail-Labour Party government.

In late 1994, Bertie Dermot Ahern succeeded Albert Reynolds as leader of Fianna Fail.

Dermot Ahern returned to the senior ranks of the party becoming chief whip.

Dermot Ahern has since taken a stance on the issue of political corruption in Ireland publicly calling for an outright ban of corporate and trade union donations to political parties.

Dermot Ahern achieved pension rights for Irish people who had emigrated from Ireland prior to 1953.

Dermot Ahern's Department introduced a system of Policy Directions to the telecoms regulator mandating, amongst other things, Flat Rate Internet Access.

Dermot Ahern sanctioned a reform package for public service broadcasting in Ireland and introduced a Charter for Ireland's national broadcaster RTE.

Dermot Ahern's Department introduced a programme to provide free broadband internet access to schools.

Dermot Ahern secured EU recognition and protection of the Irish Box, an area of Irish territorial waters out of bounds to Spanish and Portuguese fishermen.

Shortly into his tenure in April 2005, Dermot Ahern was appointed one of four special envoys for United Nations reform by the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Dermot Ahern spoke of the 'Third Phase' in Irish foreign policy which he calls "Active Neutrality".

Dermot Ahern has stated that, in foreign policy terms, 'the single greatest, economic, environmental, geopolitical issue now facing us is climate change.

At the 2006 Moylan commemoration, Dermot Ahern was quoted, stating: "As an Irish Republican, my main personal and political goal is to live to see the unity of Ireland".

Dermot Ahern introduced free passports for Irish senior citizens and had called for a comprehensive ban on the use of cluster munitions.

Dermot Ahern was appointed Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on 7 May 2008, by the new Taoiseach Brian Cowen.

Dermot Ahern is responsible for the Civil Partnership Bill 2009 published on 26 June 2009.

Dermot Ahern said that in March 2010 he would propose to the Cabinet a constitutional amendment deleting the constitutional prohibition on blasphemy when the children's rights amendment comes up.

Dermot Ahern told RTE's The Week in Politics that 'nothing is going on at the direction of Government in relation to this.

Dermot Ahern resigned as Minister for Justice and Law Reform on 19 January 2011.

Dermot Ahern was responsible for introducing legislation recognising civil partnerships for same-sex couples.

Dermot Ahern denied claims that he had made representations to former Minister for Justice Michael McDowell on behalf of Michael McKevitt, who has been convicted of directing terrorism.

Dermot Ahern said that had merely forwarded an email from McKevitts' wife, Bernadette Sands McKevitt, who was a constituent in 2004.