Prime Minister of Ireland John Bruton (born 1947), who served in parliament since 1969, has earned a reputation as a no-nonsense, forthright leader. One of Bruton's goals is to establish peace between the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and its opposition, mainly Britain and Southern Ireland.

The 1990s has seen much change in Ireland--from a cultural and economic upturn to the overtures of peace, after nearly three decades of turmoil. Into this wellspring of hope came Ireland's newly elected prime minister, John Bruton.

A Fresh Perspective

Bruton has served in the Irish parliament since 1969. With his election to the highest governing office in the land (there is a president of Ireland, but that position serves primarily as head of state), Bruton, head of the Fine Gael party, served notice of a fresh perspective. For one thing, Bruton is no "media-driven politician," as one associate was quoted as saying in a National...