31/12 The Front Pages

'Bertie Bails out' - The Irish Independent

'Bertie Ahern says he will not run in next General Election' - The Irish Times

'Defiant Bertie will not contest next General Election' - The Irish Examiner

Bertie Ahern last night officially announced what most people already knew - that he wouldn't be running in the next General Election.

He released a statement confirming his intention to step down, before taking the opportunity to speak at his headquarters in St. Lukes, Drumcondra.

"I realise that it would have been better if some things had been done differently," he said, "but I will not denigrate the good that has been done, or belittle the effort it took to achieve it."

When asked if he should apologise for the current Irish financial crisis, he replied "I don't think it's a question of an apology.

"What I've always said is I feel that all the gains I created . . . when I brought the country to full employment, I brought it to immigration instead of emigration, I brought it so we were spending billions on infrastructure.

"So I do take credit for the gains and I say I'm sorry we weren't able to keep the gains at the same level, that we did go back a bit."

"I can honestly say, not once did any official or any delegation who was in to see me, and everyone was in to see me, not once did anyone ever say to me, watch out for Anglo (Irish Bank).

"Never ever, ever, once. Not from anyone . . . I wish they had."

The former Taoiseach will receive a ministerial pension of €98,000-a-year on top of a TD pension of €48,000-a-year. He will also be entitled to a state car, Garda protection and his own secretary.

Ahern admitted his party will have it difficult in the next General Election, though he hasn't ruled out a run at the presidency himself.

"I hope they do better than all the opinion polls, and I think they will. But we're not doing great because we've had to make hard decisions, we've had to make tough decisions.

"[As for the Presidency goes,] everybody would love to be in the Aras, but only one person will end up there."