BERTIE AHERN last night tendered his resignation as Taoiseach after 11 years in office to President Mary McAleese at a brief ceremony in Áras an Uachtaráin, although he will retain the title until this afternoon.
Mr Ahern, accompanied by a small number of officials, arrived at the Áras in brilliant sunshine shortly after 6pm, with a copy of his resignation letter.
Chatting quietly with the President, Mr Ahern, accompanied by the secretary general to the Government, Dermot McCarthy, and the secretary general to the President, Tim Collins, shortly afterwards signed the letter.
President McAleese and Mr Ahern then left to enter a private room in the Áras, where they spent 20 minutes talking privately.
During their conversation, President McAleese congratulated him on his speech to the joint Houses of Congress in Washington, saying that it had reflected well on both him and on the country. She also congratulated him on yesterday’s opening of the Battle of the Boyne visitors’ centre in Co Louth.
Asked for a final word by journalists as he departed, the resigning Taoiseach said only: “Thank you all for following me for so many years and thanks for your courtesy.”
Mr Ahern remains as acting Taoiseach until a replacement is voted in today by the Dáil. This morning he will lead the Government at the commemoration in Arbour Hill to mark the Easter Rising.
