Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

File photo of Bertie Ahern at the Ard Fheis in 1998 Eamonn Farrell

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern rejoins Fianna Fáil after more than 10 years

Ahern resigned from Fianna Fáil in 2012 after the Mahon Tribunal.

FORMER TAOISEACH BERTIE Ahern has rejoined Fianna Fáil more than 10 years after he quit the party. 

A spokesperson for Fianna Fáil said: “We received a membership application and it was accepted by the Party.”

It’s understood Ahern has rejoined the party as an ordinary member. 

Members are considered provisional during their first year and they do not have voting rights. 

Ahern resigned from Fianna Fáil in 2012 after the Mahon Tribunal. He stepped down as Taoiseach in 2008 and as a TD in 2011. He made the move before party leader Micheál Martin sought to expel him from the party.

The tribunal (officially the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments) found that he did not truthfully account for payments of IR£165,000 made to accounts connected to him.

It was scathing in its treatment of the former Taoiseach, rejecting much of the evidence he provided in connection to a substantial number of lodgements made in the 1990s.

Although the tribunal did not make findings of corruption against Ahern, it proved hugely damaging to his reputation. He has disputed the findings.

In September, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin indicated he would be open to allowing Ahern back into Fianna Fáil.

Martin said that he had been engaging with the former taoiseach in recent times, particularly about issues around the Northern Ireland Protocol.

He said: “In terms of Bertie Ahern, I have been engaging with Bertie Ahern actually over the last year and a bit, since the rows on the protocol, and he’s very involved in Northern Ireland issues, he maintains contacts with different groups.

“From my perspective, like that level of consultation will continue because I think he has invaluable insights to all of that.”

Martin said that his former colleague has experience with a range of groups in Northern Ireland.

“He has reached out to communities in the north and is sort of picking up perspectives in different communities and that’s been valuable in terms of engaging and discussions on that,” the Fianna Fail leader added.

“No one can take from the contribution he made to peace in Ireland and to the peace process, so the fullness of time certainly we will give him that consideration.

“It’s very relaxed when we meet.”

When reminded that he sought to expel his predecessor from the party, Martin said that he resigned in the wake of the tribunal.

“As far as I am concerned, it’s 10 years on, I’m conscious of the contribution he has made to peace in the country.

“He made a very significant contribution,” Martin added.

With reporting by Press Association

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
102 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerard Moroney
    Favourite Gerard Moroney
    Report
    Oct 21st 2022, 9:27 AM

    Isn’t that Peter Robinson former leader of DUP in the picture with Liz Truss and Michelle O Neill ??

    117
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Kelly
    Favourite Alan Kelly
    Report
    Oct 21st 2022, 10:08 AM

    @Gerard Moroney: no it’s Jeffers from left to right Michelle, Lettuce , Jeff

    50
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Gantly
    Favourite Michael Gantly
    Report
    Oct 21st 2022, 12:19 PM

    @Alan Kelly: it’s Peter Robinson on the right; the caption is wrong!

    40
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Walsh
    Favourite Tom Walsh
    Report
    Oct 21st 2022, 12:34 PM

    @Michael Gantly: quite right as of 12:34 on Friday

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Walsh
    Favourite Tom Walsh
    Report
    Oct 21st 2022, 12:35 PM

    @Alan Kelly: that’s who one might expect to be included, but not the case at the minute

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Philip Kennedy
    Favourite Philip Kennedy
    Report
    Oct 21st 2022, 3:12 PM

    @Michael Gantly: that’s Peter on the far right. Thanks everyone I’m here all day.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jack Byrne
    Favourite Jack Byrne
    Report
    Oct 21st 2022, 11:34 AM

    The real disaster for Northern Ireland is the clusterf#ck formerly known as Brexit and the support it got from the ludicrous DUP. Do be aware one of the DUP’s recent leaders thinks that the world is about 6000 years old. I would quote Churchill… ““The whole map of Europe has been changed … but as the deluge subsides and the waters fall short we see the dreary steeples of Fermanagh and Tyrone emerging once again.”.

    91
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shaun Gallagher
    Favourite Shaun Gallagher
    Report
    Oct 21st 2022, 11:08 AM

    It’s a disaster already.

    53
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rory
    Favourite Rory
    Report
    Oct 21st 2022, 12:47 PM

    MLA’s being paid to do nothing. That’s the scandal.

    50
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Harris
    Favourite Dave Harris
    Report
    Oct 21st 2022, 2:56 PM

    @Rory: that’s the least of their problems

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Justin Gillespie
    Favourite Justin Gillespie
    Report
    Oct 21st 2022, 9:22 AM

    It seems like there is a good chance they might bring Boris back!! All of a sudden, steady and boring doesn’t seem like such a bad way of running things.
    Funny old world.

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute B Collins
    Favourite B Collins
    Report
    Oct 21st 2022, 1:39 PM

    Is there anything to be said for another mass?

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Smithweiser
    Favourite Smithweiser
    Report
    Oct 21st 2022, 4:02 PM

    Let’s be honest they love this stuff another few month/ year off work paid leave for that crowd up north

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Kelly
    Favourite Alan Kelly
    Report
    Oct 21st 2022, 7:37 PM

    @Smithweiser: yes the Crown will foot the bill

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Antaine O'Labhradha
    Favourite Antaine O'Labhradha
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2022, 12:51 AM

    @Smithweiser: Unionism is in its Canute phase. It knows things have changed and not to its benefit and that the old certainties are gone forever. It sees the demographic writing-on-the-wall and is having difficulty allowing that sink in. They know what’s coming and that, really, it’s practically all over bar the waiting and they don’t yet want to allow those thoughts suffuse their thinking bits. They’ll learn, though. Even Canute knew when to get out of the water or be drowned.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Antaine O'Labhradha
    Favourite Antaine O'Labhradha
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2022, 12:42 AM

    Our Michelle, Liz Turd, Jeffwina Donaldson, in that order..

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds