Part three: 'From 2004 to 2007, there are some very significant failures of leadership and public policy'

Listen | 41:09
Then-taoiseach Bertie Ahern with then-minister for finance Charlie McCreevy TD and tánaiste Mary Harney, who were in government during a period of unprecedented economic growth in Ireland.

In this episode Hugh Linehan and Pat Leahy pore over what comes after Fianna Fáil’s successful 2002 general election amid the ongoing boom. The defeats in local and European elections in 2004, the twin debacles of e-voting and decentralisation, and Charlie McCreevy exiting stage right, all raised questions about Bertie’s decision-making.

This is part three of The Ahern Years. Parts one and two are also available.