Michael Ahern (Irish politician)

For other people named Michael Ahern, see Michael Ahern (disambiguation).

Michael Ahern
Teachta Dála
In office February 1982 – February 2011
Constituency	Cork East
Personal details
Born	20 January 1949 (1949-01-20) (age 62) County Cork
Nationality	Irish
Political party	Fianna Fáil
Spouse(s)	Margaret Monahan
Alma mater	University College Dublin

Michael Ahern (born 20 January 1949) is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork East constituency from 1982 to 2011.^[1]

Biography

Michael Ahern was born in Dungourney, County Cork. 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.^[2] 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.^[2]

See also

• Families in the Oireachtas

References

1. ^ "Mr. Michael Ahern". Oireachtas Members Database. http://oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=30&MemberID=9&ConstID=34. Retrieved 25 August 2009. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Michael Ahern". ElectionsIreland.org. http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=154. Retrieved 25 August 2009. 

Bibliography

• Nealon's Guide to the 30th Dáil & 23rd Seanad, Ed. Stephen Collins, Dublin, 2007

Oireachtas
Preceded by Carey Joyce (Fianna Fáil)	Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Cork East 1982–2011	Succeeded by Sandra McLellan (Sinn Féin)
Political offices
Preceded by New office	Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (with special responsibility for Trade and Commerce) 2002–2007	Succeeded by John McGuinness
Preceded by New office	Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (with special responsibility for Innovation Policy) 2007–2008	Succeeded by Jimmy Devins

Persondata
Name	Ahern, Michael
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	20 January 1949
Place of birth	County Cork
Date of death
Place of death