One of the nice things about being Taoiseach is that one gets on to the cover of Ireland's political bible, Nealon's Guide, Bertie Ahern acknowledged last night But he will not be there again.
Launching the book, edited by Irish Times political editor, Stephen Collins, he said he had achieved "what I wanted to achieve: three times in a row. 2012 will be past my sell-by date."
By tradition, the leaders of the governing parties as they went into the campaign and then into government are the ones to be featured on the cover of the guide, first published by ex-Fine Gael TD, Ted Nealon back in 1977.
One of the leaders featured, the Green Party's Trevor Sargent, has already fallen.
Teased by journalists last night, Mr Ahern made it clear he has no intention of quickly following suit: "The photograph will definitely be there until 2012"
At the launch last night in Buswells Hotel, attended by large number of serving and retired politicians and journalists, Mr Ahern said "It is the standard reference book in Irish elections for so many years now. It's great to see Ted Nealon alive and well and here tonight. Ted is a real legend in Irish political journalism and his painstaking research established Nealon's Guide's reputation," he said.
In 2002, the guide was taken over by The Irish Times and Gill & MacMillan, and this time it includes the full details of the results of the Northern Ireland Assembly elections.
Referring to the editor of the guide he said: "Stephen is no novice. He has made a really significant contribution to Irish politics and to our understanding of it." "I do admire his style which is always informed, intelligent and certainly never vindictive. He is an example of the best qualities of Irish journalism which I hope will not be fully lost sight of by less experience journalists."
He thanked The Irish Times editor, Geraldine Kennedy for the newspaper's "continuing commitment" to the guide.
"I sincerely hope that they will be free of the burden of having to produce the guide for another five years. "I will do all I possibly can to make sure that that is the case. It helps everybody that we don't have to do this too often. My only promise is that if it does go successfully to 2012, I will not be on the front cover, or any other cover," he said.
