1992:After the resignation of Charles Haughey, Bertie Ahern's bid for the Fianna Fáil leadership is derailed when supporters of Albert Reynolds allude to his complicated personal affairs by remarking that "people want to know where the taoiseach is living". Becomes minister for finance in Reynolds's cabinet.
November 1994:Sits beside Reynolds during a crucial debate on events in the attorney general's office. According to Reynolds (though not other sources), Ahern withholds a report on a crucial precedent. Ahern is elected party leader after Reynolds's resignation and is on the brink of becoming taoiseach when The Irish Times reports on the case and talks with Labour collapse.
June 1997:Elected taoiseach of a minority government with the PDs and support of independents. Embraces new policies such as privatisation and tax cuts.
October 1997:Accepts the resignation of Ray Burke, whose appointment as minister for foreign affairs had signalled a return to power of the old elite. Describes as a "sinister development" the "persistent hounding of an honourable man to resign his important position, on the basis of innuendo . . . ", but nevertheless distances himself from Burke.
September 1997:Reynolds is unexpectedly beaten to the Fianna Fáil nomination for the presidential election by Mary McAleese. According to an Irish Times report, "Bertie Ahern had said he would support Reynolds and he did . . . He showed him his vote . . . to indicate his patronage. Strangely, when he did that, Albert Reynolds is reported to have been overcome with the oddest feeling that he was about to fail in his bid."
2004:Moves right-leaning Charlie McCreevy from Department of Finance to the European Commission, part of a softening of the government's image that sees Ahern claiming to be a socialist.