As Bertie Ahern announces his resignation,his contribution to the rise of the New Ireland is recognised by commentators,but there was almost a inevitabilty about his ending.
The Independent reports that
Mr Ahern was insistent that despite the welter of allegations concerning his financial affairs he had never taken a corrupt payment, declaring: "I know in my heart of hearts that I have done no wrong."
It has nonetheless become obvious that his explanations for a series of unorthodox money transfers were not believed by the public and that the issue was causing increasing concern within his own party.
There is much praise in the Telegraph which says
He has presided over significant changes, both economic and social, in his country. Mr Ahern will be most remembered for his contribution to the peace process in Northern Ireland, a product of his understanding of the aspirations of the Ulster Unionists and an implacable opposition to Sinn Fein.
But the same paper says
Like his great mentor Charles Haughey, the former Taoiseach who died in disgrace in 2006, Mr Ahern's achievements have been tainted, even in a country with an unusually charitable attitude towards allegations of political corruption.
His latest setback says the Times
came over Easter when a constituency secretary broke down under tribunal questioning because she was unable to explain a £15,000 sterling deposit that she had made on behalf of Mr Ahern. The Taoiseach had previously denied making foreign deposits.
The Guardian meanwhile says
The timing of Bertie Ahern's departure has as much to do with Europe as events in the Republic of Ireland, which holds a referendum next month to ratify the Lisbon EU treaty. Strategists within Fianna Fáil feared the vote would be exploited by opponents using it as a de facto referendum on the taoiseach's leadership.
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