The Taoiseach has said he is "looking forward" to the by-election campaigns for the vacant Dáil seats in Kildare North and Meath.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern
As he officially launched the party's candidates today, he said he knew it was a long time since a government party won a by-election but that just makes him, the candidates and the whole Fianna Fáil party "even more determined to succeed".
Mr Ahern presented the Kildare North candidate, Ms Áine Brady and the Meath candidate, Mr Shane Cassells, at an event in Dublin.
He said that neither of the Fianna Fáil candidates will be campaigning on the basis of 'Mission Accomplished'. "They will be listening and engaging with the voters in their counties," he said.
"Issues such as schools, health, childcare and - very particular to these two counties - commuting, will be central. When the electors in both counties share those concerns with Shane and Áine they can be sure that those concerns will be heard - and responded to."
Both seats will be hotly contested, with a major battle expected between the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael candidates in Meath. The Meath seat was vacated by the former Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Mr John Bruton in November, when he was appointed as the EU ambassador to Washington. Mr Shane McEntee has been nominated for the by-election campaign.
Fine Gael is hoping the strong Bruton vote in the constituency will come out in force for the ballot.
No Government has won a by-election since 1982 and a win in either constituency would be a major boost for Fianna Fáil. The Progressive Democrats are also running candidates in both areas.
Mr Ahern said both his party's candidates had "a passion for politics" and a commitment to community.
The Taoiseach said Ms Brady, a teacher from Clane, brings with her a wide range of political experience. As a working mother with teenage children she had a "real knowledge" of the issues that concern people across Kildare North, he said.
Ms Brady is a sister of Government Chief Whip Mr Tom Kitt. The Taoiseach said that Mr Cassells already had a wealth of political experiences although he is a young candidate.
Mr Cassells, a nephew of the prominent trade unionist and Labour Party candidate in last year's European elections Mr Peter Cassells, is from Navan.
He is a sports journalist with the Fingal Independentnewspaper in Swords. He was elected to Navan Town Council in 1999 and became the youngest mayor of the town four years later.
Meanwhile, Labour's Meath candidate, Mr Dominic Hannigan, lodged his nomination papers for the March 11 thpoll today at Trim courthouse in Co Meath.
To coincide with the campaign, Labour also announced the publication of a bill which would punish builders and developers who leave housing estates unfinished and would enable residents to sue such developers where estates are not completed properly.