Bertie cared about Fianna Fail the way he would have cared about any deeply personal matter — as shown by his mingling of the various bank accounts.

“It is with profound regret that I have today accepted, on behalf of the Government, the resignation of the Taoiseach,Bartholomew Ahern, and his resignation from Dáil Éireann. Pending the appointment of a successor I, will assume responsibility for the day to day duties of his office.

His outstanding record of public service over the past forty years, initially as a T.D.,then Lord Mayor; Minister for Labour; and Minister for Finance. as well as the remarkable “anti treaty” I.R.A. service of his late father,Con Ahern.
Patrick Bartholomew, demonstrated in real terms the deep commitment of the Ahern family to republican principles , pork barrel politics, and getting re-elected,at any cost to the nation.!

Both he and his family can feel immensely proud of the major role he played in Government, in singlehandedly achieving the breakthrough which resulted in today’s historic events in the North when his special envoy Martin Manseragh convinced the “Real IRA” to stop blowing innocent women and children to smithereens
( by locking them up..)
I thank him for the consummate professionalism with which he always fulfilled his Ministerial duties.

Bertie Ahern always distinguished himself in the Ministries to which he was appointed, by his great managerial capabilities and his high work-rate:

He brought further distinction to the proud Fianna Fail “family” tradition,of accepting money from his numerous friends,and business associates,both here and abroad,thereby enriching some of his closest work colleagues, and his life partner Celia..
This country owes him a debt of gratitude for his work on behalf of the nation, and his constant commitment to quality performance in sourcing so much hard cash from such a diversity of donors..”

Those who choose politics as a profession, know from the outset that they are putting their reputations on the line in their determination to serve the public whilst lining their pockets, and maintaining an adequate lifestyle on a Ministers miserable pittance of a salary.
They have to accept the criticism which attends their decisions and their every action. Their families too learn to take the brunt of stinging remarks, which often overstep the boundaries of civility and courtesy.

In the case of Bertie Ahern, I see a much more sinister development: the persistent hounding of an honourable man to resign his important position, on the basis of innuendo and unproven allegations.
Some who would class themselves as protectors of basic civil rights have harried and hounded this man without according him the basic right of due process, which deems us innocent unless proven guilty.
I believe personally that the according of due process is not just a basic right, but the very essence of common decency.

There has been a sustained campaign of incremental intensity. When this debate first began there were calls for Bertie Ahern to make a public statement. He did so,before the nation on R.T.E,in a frank and open manner which deeply moved the entire population. Then there were demands for a Dáil Statement, followed by Questions and Answers. But when it was agreed that theTribunal would continue to deal with all the issues fairly and comprehensively, that was still not enough.

There comes a time when even the strongest shoulder bows, when even the stoutest heart falters, when even the very best can resist no longer.”

“I regret the resignation of Bertie Ahern, my party colleague for thirty years and my Cabinet colleague for most of that period.

I deeply regret the reasons for his resignation and the pain and anguish caused to Miriam, his daughters Georgina & Cecelia, his long time partner celia Larkin,and all his family and friends. It is an indictment of those involved in forcing him to this pass, that they clamoured for his resignation without giving him the proper opportunity of proving his case before the Tribunal had dug out the dirt on him, in it’s totality.

I always found him to be a proud honourable man, loyal and true, persevering and principled, caring and committed but tough, yet a person who had friends, too numerous to mention, when cash was needed. On behalf of the Government and particularly on behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I thank him for his distinguished years in the service of his constituents and his country.”