TD Watch – Noel Ahern: The brother

As the Taoiseach's brother, Noel Ahern believes he has the freedom to speak out where other TDs would hold back. Sometimes he can even be a thorn in Bertie's side. By Mary Regan

Noel Ahern has the longest title in the Dáil: Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government, with special responsibility for Housing and Urban Renewal, and at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, with special responsibility for Drugs Strategy. He seems to deal with anything that doesn't fit into other portfolios, from drugs to philanthropy, from urban planning to dormant accounts.

He says the job is as much a handful as it is a mouthful: "I think I must be one of the busiest Ministers of State. I'm probably as busy as some of the ministers." And this is not surprising, considering that housing and drugs, both under his remit, are pressing issues for many Irish people today.

Last year, 77,000 houses were built in the country, more than double the amount being built ten years ago. Ahern says an increase in the number of 18-35 year olds living here has put "huge pressure on the housing market", and the only way to prevent prices from rising further is to keep supply high.

He was criticised for his opposition to the 100 per cent mortgages being offered by some financial institutions, believing they would lead to soaring house prices: "they create a surge of demand for houses and this would only bring forward more pressure and demand on supply".

Despite a growth in the use of cocaine in Dublin, Ahern believes the National Drugs Strategy is helping to encourage young people away from using drugs. "We have put €100 million into building facilities for young people in working-class parts of Dublin, to give them the opportunity to engage in healthier pursuits."

But the Drugs Strategy is seldom safe from criticism. Last year the Labour Party launched a review of the strategy, saying it was starved of funding and that drugs were being sold "under the noses of gardaí".

As the Taoiseach's older brother, Ahern believes he sometimes has the freedom to speak out and say things that other TDs would be reluctant to say. He did not get involved in politics until after Bertie, and says he has sometimes been "a thorn in the side" of the Taoiseach. He was the leader of the backbench rebellion against the Budget in 2000, over the issue of women working in the home losing out due to tax individualisation. "I say what I like and he puts up with it and tolerates it and sometimes welcomes it. But he's never in any doubt that I'm by his side." Both brothers are part of what Charlie Haughey famously referred to as the "Drumcondra Mafia".

Having served as a city councillor for 17 years, Noel Ahern has always taken a strong interest in Dublin issues. He has spoken out against the location of the Dublin Port Tunnel, calling for the entrance to be moved further north, away from the homes of his Santry constituents. He was also strongly involved in the Ballymun Regeneration project.

He has, in the last two elections, topped the poll in his constituency of Dublin North West, with almost 7,000 first preferences last time around. But he's now concerned that his commitments as a junior Minister may be detaching him from his voters. Between travelling around the country, dealing with problems of crack cocaine, to drawing up new legislation for charities, he does not get to spend as much time in his constituency as he would like. "I hope my constituents don't penalise me for that," he says.

But, as the second Fianna Fáil seat here is almost certain to go after the next election, it's likely that his running mate, Pat Carey, who got 700 fewer votes than Ahern last time, will lose out.