Ireland’s economic successes cannot be taken for granted amid evidence of a wider world in “deep trouble” on many fronts, Tánaiste Micheál Martin has warned.
Mr Martin told the Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis that the State faces many problems, including the challenges posed by a rising and ageing population.
The Government has run budget surpluses in recent years buoyed by tax takes from multinational corporations with bases in Ireland.
The Fianna Fáil leader Mr Martin used his speech in Dublin on Saturday evening to stress the need to secure the State's economic future.
“There are many things which make this a unique moment in our history,” he said.
“In only 20 years our population has risen by over one million people.
“People are living longer and healthier lives. Demand for expanded and improved public services is rising all of the time.
“The need to be more inclusive and to address the needs of all of our people is as important as ever.
“And Ireland’s economic success cannot be taken for granted.
“Fianna Fail is very clear on what we believe needs to be done.
“We want to invest in, to modernise and to expand key public services.
“We want to help people to be able to afford homes, to buy or rent and to have access to social housing when they need it.
“We want an Ireland which shows leadership in promoting international cooperation and fundamental human rights.
“An Ireland which goes much, much further in securing peace, reconciliation, and unity on our island.”
He added: “Underlying everything is the need to secure our economy as much as possible. And we are determined to deliver this.”
Mr Martin said Ireland stood proudly as one of the “oldest democracies in the world”.
“A republic with record levels of employment and the highest population for a century-and-a-half,” he said.
“Today, we face many problems, but this progress is a true vindication of those who secured our independence and built our country.
“As we meet this evening, nobody can possibly doubt the scale of the threats faced by our country and the wider world.
“At home and internationally there are economic, political, social, and environmental challenges which demand urgent and sustained action.
“Every day we can see evidence of a world which is in deep trouble and where many find it hard to see a way forward.
“I have no doubt of just how serious the challenges we face are. And I also have no doubt that we can, and we will overcome them.
“I know that this is an age when people are so often encouraged to be cynical about politics.
“But I believe passionately in the power of politics to deliver for people.”
One of the notable attendees at Saturday’s Ard Fheis was former Fianna Fáil taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who rejoined the party earlier this year.
Mr Martin used his speech to robustly defend his party’s record in Government, insisting it had delivered in key portfolios such as housing, health and education.
“Fianna Fáil is not in government to deliver just for those who voted for us. We are there to deliver for all of the people of our country,” he told delegates at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre.
“That is why we sought the toughest ministerial challenges.”
'Sustained action'
On education, Mr Martin announced plans to tighten guidance and controls on smartphone access in schools.
The Fianna Fáil leader also pointed to the two new funds established under the recent budget that will see windfall tax receipts used to build up resources to deal with longer term challenges around funding pension provision and health services in the future, as well as providing a pot to ensure infrastructure and sustainability spending can continue in times of economic tightening.
Mr Martin insisted the Government was also helping people struggling in the here and now with the cost-of-living crisis, as he pointed to a series of supports announced in last month’s budget.
He said the coalition was also taking “sustained action” on climate change and biodiversity loss.
“We accept that tough decisions are required,” he said.
“At the core of our policy is to help families, businesses, and communities to transition to more sustainable practices.
“We have to show that people can have both a secure long-term income and help the environment.
“This is why we are investing in the retrofitting of homes and in creating a new offshore wind energy sector which will create thousands of good jobs in coastal communities.
“It is why we are determined to work together with farmers to help them implement innovations and practices which will secure their future with good incomes and make Ireland a world leader.”
Mr Martin said one of the “great challenges for this generation” remained building a lasting peace and reconciliation on the island.
He said the Government’s Shared Island Unit was making a significant contribution to this work.
“We believe passionately that the brightest future for all would be for us to be united – yet we accept and understand that the first priority has to be to build understanding, respect and engagement between communities who have for too long drifted apart,” he said.
“The Shared Island Initiative represents the first time in our history that sustained work is being done.
“Under its three strands of dialogue, research and investment, it is deepening understanding on our island and showing what we can achieve by engagement and cooperation.
“And on the ground, we are seeing investment in key projects such as the Ulster Canal, the Narrow Water Bridge and in the Magee Campus of Ulster University – linking communities and supporting our mutual interests.
“There is no doubt that over time the Shared Island Initiative will be seen as marking a decisive and lasting move forward for peace and reconciliation on our island.”
This terrible conflict is achieving nothing but death and misery.
On the conflict in the Middle East, Mr Martin reiterated the Government’s call for a humanitarian ceasefire.
“The brutal savagery of Hamas has no justification whatsoever – and no one who believes in core human values should have a problem saying this,” he said.
“And Israel has a fundamental obligation to respond within the boundaries of international humanitarian law. Civilians must be protected.
“The unfolding tragedy and the rising toll of lost lives and especially of children has to stop. We urgently need a humanitarian ceasefire. We need all hostages to be released, and we need a significant scaling up of vital supplies for civilians and especially medical supplies.
“This terrible conflict is achieving nothing but death and misery. It needs to stop.”
The Tánaiste also restated Ireland’s support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.
“This evil must not be allowed to prevail, and Ireland will always speak up for a proud European democracy determined to protect its freedoms,” he said.
“Fianna Fáil is clear that we support Ukraine in its application to join a European Union which remains one of the greatest achievements of modern times.”
Europe
On the EU, the Fianna Fáil leader strongly defended the institution.
“The Union is not perfect, but it is a fundamental foundation for progress in our country,” he said.
“And it’s important to remember that on many foreign policy matters there are different opinions. Unanimity is hard but we can reach agreement – as we did with our agreement to provide aid and call for a humanitarian pause in Gaza.
“And at this moment, when the Union faces dramatic threats, there must be no doubt where we stand. Ireland must stand with Europe. Ireland must stand against the corrosive euroscepticism and anti-democratic regimes which seek to undermine the Union.
“We can see in our nearest neighbour the damage which unchecked anti-EU politics can cause. We respect their right to leave, but we must never, ever allow Euroscepticism to go unchallenged.”
Concluding his speech, Mr Martin said Fianna Fáil believed that politics was about addressing the challenges of today and building a secure future.
“Those who always talk down our country – who claim that nothing has been achieved in a hundred years – are not serious about trying to help people, they are only serious about playing politics,” he said.
“But when you see how far our country has come, you see a country with the capacity to achieve great things.
“We can and will provide security for our future with the Ireland Future Fund.
“We can and will reduce pressure on people facing major price rises today, and work to make key services more affordable on a permanent basis.
“We can and will deliver more affordable housing, more social housing and direct support for renters.
“We can and will modernise, expand and make more accessible vital public services such as health and education.
“We can and will make Ireland a leader, not just in addressing the environmental crisis, but also providing a secure future for rural communities and family farms.
“We can and will build a permanent peace and reconciliation amongst all who share this island.
“We can, we will, we must stand with our European partners to promote shared prosperity and the fundamental values of democracy.
“The next chapter of Ireland’s story will be one where, building on work well underway, we show that we can and will deliver a prosperous and inclusive Ireland.”
