Ahern re-elected Prime Minister with promise to work for peace

Bertie Ahern was comfortably re-elected Prime Minister of the Irish Republic yesterday after his Fianna Fail party's strong performance in the general election.

The new administration will be very much a re-run of the last, with Fianna Fail forming a coalition with the smaller Progressive Democrats. Both parties increased their support in the election last month.

This is the first time in more than three decades that an outgoing government has been reconstituted. Mr Ahern's success is attributed to a clever election campaign and above all the continuing strong performance of the Irish economy.

In his acceptance speech in the Dail, Mr Ahern said that securing a lasting peace in Northern Ireland was his central aim. He declared: "There are those of both communities who remain to be assured of their place in an inclusive settlement as well as those who have yet to fulfil their commitment to that settlement.

"Building a lasting and a just peace on this island is my great political goal, the priority that I have and will continue to put above all else."

His re-election will be seen as providing continuity in the peace process, where he has generally been viewed as a calming influence.

After winning yesterday's vote by 93 votes to 68, Mr Ahern announced substantial changes to his cabinet, ditching a number of older ministers in favour of younger blood.

Mary Harney, the PD leader, is once again to be deputy prime minister in the administration. In the vote yesterday Mr Ahern was supported by five of the Dail's 14 independent members, which is viewed as a sign that the new government will be in a particularly strong position.

Fine Gael, the main opposition party, was shattered in the election, losing a large number of seats. Earlier this week it elected a new leader, Enda Kenny, who has the task of rebuilding a demoralised party before the next election.

Sinn Fein and the Greens made significant gains in last month's contest, but Mr Ahern's comfortable majority means neither is in a strong position to bring influence to bear on the new government.

The Greens briefly delayed Dail business yesterday when they occupied the government front bench in protest against what they alleged was "political apartheid" in arrangements for the smaller parties and independents.

Fianna Fail and the PDs spent some weeks negotiating a programme for the new government. Among its compromises is a decision to scale down plans for an ambitious national stadium, popularly known as the "Bertie Bowl".

The Dail's new speaker is to be a former minister, Dr Rory O'Hanlon, the father of the comedian and actor Ardal O'Hanlon, who played Father Dougal in the Father Ted television series.