Noel Ahern

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Noel Ahern (Irish: Nollaig Ó hEachthigheirn;^[1] born 28 December 1944), is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He is a Teachta Dála (TD) for Dublin North West and is currently the Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for Road Safety. Ahern is a brother of the former Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader, Bertie Ahern and younger brother of former Lord Mayor of Dublin Councillor Maurice Ahern.

Born in Drumcondra, Dublin in 1944, he was educated at the Christian Brothers' O'Connell School, Dublin, University College, Dublin and the College of Commerce, Rathmines. He worked as an official with CIÉ before becoming a politician. He was elected to Dublin City Council in 1985. In the 1992 general election he was elected to Dáil Éireann and has been re-elected at every election since. 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 & 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.

[edit] Housing Affordability Controversy

Ahern created controversy in June 2006 when, despite being the minister responsible for housing, he claimed that there were 'many' houses available in Dublin for less than €200,000, which he classed as 'affordable' for first-time buyers. At the time, the difficulty of people on average salaries buying a first home was seen as particularly acute.

Ahern was quoted as saying there was 'a tendency to get carried away' with the average house price. 'There are many affordable new houses, even in Dublin, under €200,000,' he said.^[2] It was pointed out that a mortgage of €200,000 would require repayments of more than €1,000 per month on a 25-year mortgage. In addition, a search for houses on sale in Dublin at €200,000 or less on Myhome.ie at the time turned up no results.

Later in that year, Ahern again drew criticism when he described the four interest rate increases up to August 2006 as 'painless' for borrowers.^[3] The rate increases totalled to an extra €275 per month that a borrower would have to repay on a €500,000 mortgage (the average house price in Ahern’s native Dublin at the time).

[edit] References

Oireachtas
Preceded by Michael Barrett (Fianna Fáil)	Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Dublin North West 1992–present	Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Newly created office	Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs with special responsibility for Drugs Strategy and Community Affairs 2002–2007	Succeeded by Pat Carey
Preceded by Bobby Molloy	Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (with special responsibility for Housing & Urban Renewal) 2002–2007	Succeeded by Batt O'Keeffe
Preceded by Tom Parlon	Minister of State at the Department of Finance 2007–2008	Succeeded by Martin Mansergh
Preceded by Newly created office	Minister of State at the Department of Transport (with special responsibility for Road Safety) 2008–present	Incumbent