VIP 'backbench Bertie' is on the move to plush suite of offices
Walking the line: Ahern on his last walk to his office yesterday
TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern is due to move from Government buildings into his new offices today as he returns to the backbenches for the first time in almost 30 years.
Contractors are frantically working 14-hour shifts to complete the renovation of the suite in Setanta Place, which is located in a sidestreet just minutes from Leinster House.
It is far bigger than the offices given to regular backbench TDs, with five rooms in total, including a large central office. It was previously used by former Taoiseach John Bruton when he stepped down as Fine Gael leader in 2001.
"I think that probably he will be a candidate for the presidency, that's what I would think, and I would think that with his popularity he will have no bother getting there,'' said Mr Paisley.
"He may go to Europe. There's two years and I'm sure he's not going to hang around because he'll need to keep his name well before the people, but I think that after all he has done he deserves to be the president of the country, if he so desires it.''
Prediction
But as speculation about his future plans continues, Mr Ahern himself last night played down his northern counterpart's prediction, simply saying the election is a "long time away".
Although he has matched Eamon de Valera's record of winning three elections in a row, he has remained non-committal on whether he will also seek to follow him into Aras an Uachtarain when President McAleese retires in 2011.
A spokesman for Mr Ahern repeated his comments that the presidential election was a long time away.
"His main concern now is to look after his Dublin Central constituency," he said.
Yesterday, the contractors hired by the Office of Public Works were painting, drilling and putting down cement in the offices in a bid to finish them on time.
A spokesman for the OPW said it was expected the offices would be ready for Mr Ahern's move from Government buildings. He will then be able to move in his office furnishings, including key items such as his portrait of executed 1916 leader Padraig Pearse.
Part of the offices were formerly occupied by two newspaper political correspondents, who have been re-located to make way for Mr Ahern.
His brother, Junior Minister Noel Ahern, yesterday told Newstalk 106 that he was "worried" about Mr Ahern making the transition from Taoiseach to humble backbencher.
But Mr Ahern himself has told political colleagues that he is looking forward to working as a backbench TD again for the first time in 27 years.
He was first elected in 1977 but he quickly moved from the backbenches to the frontbench when he was appointed as his party's spokesman on Labour Affairs in 1981.
Yesterday, in an interview with radio presenter Gerry Ryan before opening the Battle of the Boyne site with Mr Paisley, Mr Ahern joked that his new dream job would be to take over the reins of power at the Dublin football team.
"I'd love to manage the Dublin team, but they're doing a good job", he said.
Mr Ahern said his main job in the short term would be to look after his constituents.
"Last week in the States, people were asking me to do this, that and the other, but I'll just have to clear the head, look at the Kerry mountains and see what I need to do next," he said.
"I'm not sure. You have to try and work out what you do with your life. I'm still a TD for Dublin Central. I'm out of the national politics but will continue to work with the people I love and serve. That's a priority."
Mr Ahern has previously been linked with a new overseas aid role after it emerged that he had lengthy discussions with former UN chief Kofi Annan and activist Bob Geldof.
"I've been working 80 hours a week for yonks. I can do other things," he said yesterday.
- Michael Brennan and Sarah Stack
