The Taoiseach Brian Cowen has been leading tributes his predecessor Bertie Ahern following the announcement that he won’t be contesting the next General Election.

The former Taoiseach announced his retirement plans last night saying he’d always planned to step down as a TD before he was 60.

Brian Cowen said the announcement marked the end of an era – he described Bertie Ahern as the consummate politician of his generation.

Speaking to reporters afterwards Bertie Ahern said nobody advised him that a banking crisis could be coming down the line.

And his brother and Fianna Fail TD Noel Ahern is proud of his economic legacy: