Noel Ahern | |
|---|---|
| Minister of State | |
| 2008–2009 | Transport |
| 2007–2008 | Finance |
| 2002–2007 | Environment, Heritage and Local Government |
| 2002–2007 | Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office November 1992 – February 2011 | |
| Constituency | Dublin North-West |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1944-12-28)28 December 1944 (age 80) Dublin, Ireland |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
| Relatives |
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| Alma mater | |
Noel Ahern (born 28 December 1944) is an Irish formerFianna Fáil politician. He served as aTeachta Dála (TD) for theDublin North-West constituency from 1992 to 2011.[1] He also served as theMinister of State at theDepartment of Transport with special responsibility for Road Safety from May 2008 to April 2009.
Born inDrumcondra, Dublin, he was educated at theChristian BrothersO'Connell School, Dublin,University College Dublin and the College of Commerce, Rathmines. He worked as an official withCIÉ before becoming a politician. Ahern is a brother of the formerTaoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader,Bertie Ahern and younger brother of formerLord Mayor of DublinMaurice Ahern.
He was elected toDublin City Council in 1985. At the1992 general election he was elected toDáil Éireann and was re-elected in every subsequent election until his retirement in 2011.[2]
Between 1994 and 1997, Ahern served as Opposition spokesman on the Environment with special responsibility for Housing. In 1997, he served as Chairman of the Oireachtas All Party Dáil Committee on Social Community and Family Affairs. In 2002, he was appointed as Minister of State at theDepartment of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, with responsibility for Housing and Urban Renewal, and at theDepartment of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, with responsibility for Drugs Strategy and Community Affairs. After the2007 general election, he was appointed asMinister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for theOffice of Public Works.
In May 2008, afterBrian Cowen became Taoiseach, he was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for Road Safety. In April 2009, Ahern resigned along with all junior ministers, at the request of the Taoiseach, and was not reappointed.
Ahern created controversy in June 2006 when, as minister responsible for housing, he claimed that there were many affordable new houses available inDublin under €200,000. He was quoted as saying there was 'a tendency to get carried away' with the average house price.
Later in that year, Ahern again drew criticism when he described the four interest rate increases up to August 2006 as 'painless' for borrowers.
In January 2011, he announced that he would not be contesting the2011 general election.[3] He receives an annual pension payment of €70,233.[4]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| New office | Minister of State for Drugs Strategy and Community Affairs 2002–2007 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of State for Housing and Urban Renewal 2002–2007 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of State at the Department of Finance 2007–2008 | Succeeded by |
| New office | Minister of State at the Department of Transport 2008–2009 | Office abolished |