REACTION:FIANNA FÁIL TD Mary O'Rourke has contrasted what she said was the stylish manner in which Bertie Ahern announced his departure from power with his earlier years when his life had been in turmoil for a time.
The Fianna Fáil TD for Longford-Westmeath also said she was saddened over Mr Ahern's decision to step down as Taoiseach, but was not totally surprised.
Ms O'Rourke said Mr Ahern handled himself "with great style," in the manner in which he announced his exit, saying he did it with "panache".
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Pat Kenny, she added Mr Ahern conducted himself "most admirably" compared to the "shambolic exit of Albert Reynolds and the very the fraught exit of Charles Haughey".
Ms O'Rourke quoted part of Mr Ahern's speech on Wednesday in which he spoke of previous struggles. When host Pat Kenny suggested that Mr Ahern had been a "mess" at the time, Ms O'Rourke said: "Yeah, he was a mess, financially, socially and personally speaking. He wanted to advance politically.
"His marriage had broken up, he had to do the right thing there. He had to get himself set up, so to speak. He was beginning a new relationship."
Ms O'Rourke said that Mr Ahern consulted nobody in the end with regard to his decision to resign as Taoiseach, commenting that he "had loads of bosom friends but not a lot of close confidantes".
She said that Mr Ahern can now enter the Mahon tribunal with added authority following his announcement to hand over the party leadership and will be "freer" on the next occasion in his dealings with the tribunal in what he will say.
The way in which he handled himself on Wednesday gives him a "protective aura" facing the tribunal in the future, she said.
In his speech, Mr Ahern insisted he had never enriched himself by misusing the trust of the people.
"I know that some people will feel that some aspects of my finances are unusual.
"I truly regret if this has caused any confusion or worry in people's minds.
"All of these issues arose in a period when my family, personal and professional situations were rapidly changing and I made the best decisions I could in the circumstances in which I found myself.
"I know in my heart of hearts that I have done no wrong and wronged no-one," he said.