Noel Ahern

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Noel Ahern (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 the Environment & Local Government. Ahern is a brother of the current Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader, Bertie 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 1992 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 received his current position as Minister of State at the Department of Environment 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.

[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. ^[1] 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, the largest property website in Ireland, turned up no results. ^[2]

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).

[edit] References

1. ^ Quoted in the Irish Examiner
2. ^ Myhome.ie search page
3. ^ Sunday Business Post search page

Oireachtas
Preceded by Michael Barrett (Fianna Fáil)	Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Dublin North West 1992 – present	Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Bobby Molloy	Minister of State at the Department of the Environment & Local Government (with special responsibility for Housing & Urban Renewal) 2002 – present	Incumbent