Outgoing Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said today would have liked to have stayed in office for another year but that he would have stepped down after the local elections in 2009 in any case.
Mr Ahern admitted to feeling sad about leaving office today.
“But, you know, you have to come to a judgment in these things and at the end of the day, I felt this was the right time to go,” Mr Ahern said.
Speaking to reporters as he marked the opening of the new Battle of the Boyne site with Northern Ireland First Minister Dr Ian Paisley, Mr Ahern said he had enjoyed a “good run” in politics.
Asked whether he had any sadness about leaving office today, he said: “Well, you always feel sad. You feel sad mainly for the people that work with you and other people who have been involved with you.
“But we’ve had a good run. I’m 31 years in the Dáil and over 21 years at the Cabinet table and 11 years of that as Taoiseach.” He had also presided over Ireland’s presidency of the European Union and achieved other things, he said. “So I can’t complain.”
Mr Ahern conceded it would be hard to get used to a less hectic working life.
“It’ll be difficult. I’ve been working 80 hours. Since I started working in 1969, between studying and working, I was probably always doing 60 hours a week. So it’ll take a bit of adjusting but I’ll do something, as well as looking after my constituency in Dublin Central.”
The Taoiseach, who will formally tender his resignation to President Mary McAleese this evening, performed his last official function at the Co Meath heritage site.
“I’m looking forward to the day and to meeting Dr Paisley again at the Battle of the Boyne [site],” he said.
“It’s a project I’ve been involved with for a long number of years so I’m delighted we’re getting it through and I suppose I’ve spent more [time] working on Northern Ireland than anything else so it’s nice that we’re ending with a significant occasion on the Boyne.”