Political Career
He was elected to Dublin City Council in 1985. At the 1992 general election he was elected to Dáil Éireann and was re-elected in every subsequent election until his retirement in 2011.
Between 1994 and 1997, Ahern served as Opposition spokesman on the Environment with special responsibility for Housing. In 1997, he served as Chairman of the Oireachtas All Party Dáil Committee on Social Community and Family Affairs. In 2002, he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, with responsibility for Housing and Urban Renewal, and at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, with responsibility for Drugs Strategy and Community Affairs. After the 2007 general election, he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works.
In May 2008, after Brian Cowen became Taoiseach, he was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for Road Safety. In April 2009, Ahern resigned along with all Junior ministers, at the request of the Taoiseach, and was not reappointed.
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