Michael Ahern (Irish politician)
Encyclopedia
Michael Ahern is a former Irish
Fianna Fáil
politician. He was a Teachta Dála
(TD) for the Cork East
constituency from 1982 to 2011.
. He was educated at Dungourney N.S, Rockwell College
, County Tipperary
, and University College Dublin
where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
in Economics, Politics and Psychology. He also attended Kimmage Manor, Dublin where he studied Theology. For a brief period in the early 1970s Ahern worked as a Secondary School teacher. In 1973 he became an Accountancy Student at Coopers/Lybrand, Cork. In 1977 he became Financial Controller with a building construction firm in Cork. Between 1981 and 2000 Ahern served as Principal of Registered Audit and Accountancy Practice.
Ahern was first elected to Dáil Éireann
at the February 1982 general election and has held his seat ever since. In 1984 he received his first major promotion when he became Fianna Fáil Deputy spokesperson on Transport in Charles Haughey
's front bench. During his career in the Dáil, Ahern has served on a number of committees, including the Public Accounts Committee, the Joint Committee of Health & Children and the Joint Committee on Finance and Public Service. Between 1992 and 1993 he served as Minister for Science and Technology. Between 1994 and 1997 he served as Opposition Spokesperson on the Office of Public Works
and Taxation. In 2002 Fianna Fáil were re-elected and Ahern was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with responsibility for Trade and Commerce.
After the 2007 general election he was appointed as Minister of State
at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
with responsibility for Innovation Policy. On 13 May 2008, after Brian Cowen
became Taoiseach
, Ahern lost his position as Minister of State and was not appointed to any other junior ministry.
He is married to Margaret Monahan and they have three daughters
Michael Ahern is the son of Liam Ahern
, a Senator
between 1957 and 1973, and a TD from 1973 until 1974. Ahern's Grand-Uncle, John Dinneen
, was also a member of the Dáil between 1922 and 1927. Michael Ahern's brother Maurice Ahern was a long standing Fianna Fáil member of Cork County Council
but lost his seat in the 2009 elections.
He lost his seat at the 2011 general election.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
politician. He was a Teachta Dála
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
(TD) for the Cork East
Cork East (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Cork East is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies...
constituency from 1982 to 2011.
Biography
Michael Ahern was born in Dungourney, County CorkCounty Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
. He was educated at Dungourney N.S, Rockwell College
Rockwell College
Rockwell College, founded in 1864, is a private Catholic secondary school near Cashel, South Tipperary in Ireland. It offers day as well as full boarding. Rockwell is run by the Holy Ghost Fathers.-Politics:...
, County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
, and University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Economics, Politics and Psychology. He also attended Kimmage Manor, Dublin where he studied Theology. For a brief period in the early 1970s Ahern worked as a Secondary School teacher. In 1973 he became an Accountancy Student at Coopers/Lybrand, Cork. In 1977 he became Financial Controller with a building construction firm in Cork. Between 1981 and 2000 Ahern served as Principal of Registered Audit and Accountancy Practice.
Ahern was first elected to Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
at the February 1982 general election and has held his seat ever since. In 1984 he received his first major promotion when he became Fianna Fáil Deputy spokesperson on Transport in Charles Haughey
Charles Haughey
Charles James "Charlie" Haughey was Taoiseach of Ireland, serving three terms in office . He was also the fourth leader of Fianna Fáil...
's front bench. During his career in the Dáil, Ahern has served on a number of committees, including the Public Accounts Committee, the Joint Committee of Health & Children and the Joint Committee on Finance and Public Service. Between 1992 and 1993 he served as Minister for Science and Technology. Between 1994 and 1997 he served as Opposition Spokesperson on the Office of Public Works
Office of Public Works
The Office of Public Works is a State Agency of the Department of Finance in the Republic of Ireland...
and Taxation. In 2002 Fianna Fáil were re-elected and Ahern was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with responsibility for Trade and Commerce.
After the 2007 general election he was appointed as Minister of State
Minister of State (Ireland)
A Minister of State in Ireland is of non-Cabinet rank, attached to one or more Departments of State of the Government of Ireland....
at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ireland)
The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is a department of the Government of Ireland. It is led by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation who is assisted by two Ministers of State.-Departmental team:...
with responsibility for Innovation Policy. On 13 May 2008, after Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 7 May 2008 to 9 March 2011. He was head of a coalition government led by Fianna Fáil which until 23 January 2011 had the support of the Green Party and independent TDs.Cowen was also leader of Fianna Fáil from 7 May...
became Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
, Ahern lost his position as Minister of State and was not appointed to any other junior ministry.
He is married to Margaret Monahan and they have three daughters
Michael Ahern is the son of Liam Ahern
Liam Ahern
Liam Ahern , also known as William Ahern, was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served in both Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann....
, a Senator
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
between 1957 and 1973, and a TD from 1973 until 1974. Ahern's Grand-Uncle, John Dinneen
John Dinneen
John Dinneen was an Irish Farmers' Party politician. A farmer by profession, he was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1922 general election as a Farmers' Party Teachta Dála for the Cork East and North East constituency. He was re-elected at the 1923 general election for the Cork East...
, was also a member of the Dáil between 1922 and 1927. Michael Ahern's brother Maurice Ahern was a long standing Fianna Fáil member of Cork County Council
Cork County Council
Cork County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Cork in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment. The head of the council has the title of Cathaoirleach...
but lost his seat in the 2009 elections.
He lost his seat at the 2011 general election.