biography
pronunciation:
[ahern]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1951– )
|
| biography:
| Irish politician and prime minister (1997– ). He studied at Rathmines College of Commerce and University College Dublin, became a hospital accountant and union organizer, and became a member of the Dáil in 1977. After a series of junior posts, he became minister of state at the departments of Taoiseach and Defence (1982), minister for labour (1987–91) and finance (1991–4), and leader of the opposition and President of Fianna Fáil in 1994. He became head of a coalition government after defeating John Bruton in 1997. He was a key participant in the Northern Ireland peace process following the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. He was elected for a second term in 2002. |
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