I am very pleased to welcome you to this special Árd Fheis of Fianna Fáil, the Republican Party.
This is an important moment for our party. It is right that our members have the final say on whether we should join a new coalition government on the basis of an agreed programme for government
Our members are the ultimate custodians of our values and our history.
You are the foundation for all that we achieve – and you are the reason why Fianna Fáil is today, once again, the largest and most popular party in both local and national government.
This is the first time that we have met since November’s election. It is because of our success in that election that today, as Úachtaráin Fhianna Fáil, I am in a position to propose acceptance of an ambitious and exciting programme for government.
It is a programme for government which is true to the positive agenda which we set before the Irish people and which is at the core of our mandate.
I want to thank all of our members and supporters for the wonderful work which you put into bringing Fianna Fáil’s message and candidates to every community in the country.
Our approach to the election was to refuse to indulge in the type of short-term and negative campaigning which so many others are committed to.
Before the election we held our widest ever consultation within the party while preparing our manifesto.
We were very clear with the Irish people about the sort of government we wanted to be part of and the change which we are committed to.
Ireland has achieved a tremendous amount, but we have to go further.
We have to steer-through a period of real international turbulence. We have to protect our economy. And we have to use resources available to us to both address urgent needs and shape our country’s future.
And based on these principles we set out a detailed programme and campaigned every day to bring our positive message directly to the Irish people.
Ours was a campaign of substance. A campaign where we were happy to outline what we had achieved, but our priority was always about the future.
And friends, after five years of poll-obsessed commentary there were quite a few people who were surprised by how well we did.
It’s not as if we didn’t warn them!
Ours was an election campaign which was true to the founding spirit of our party and true to the beliefs of our members today.
Next March we will mark the 100th anniversary of the foundation of our party.
On a chilly Friday evening, with Constance Markiewicz in the chair, Eamon de Valera laid out a vision for our party. His core point, outlined in great detail in a draft programme, was that the duty of true republicans is to respond to the needs of today and tomorrow.
To refuse to get stuck in rigid ideologies.
To embrace the idea that change is central to a living republic.
To shape the future with a positive agenda of what our country can achieve.
This vision is as important today as it has ever been. It provides the core benchmark which we must use atthis Árd Fheis in deciding on whether or not to agree a programme for a new government.
Over the past few days the full programme for government has been circulated to every member. So I’m not going to try to go through every detail now.
What I want to do is to explain why I believe it is a programme for moving our country forward. I want to deal with some of the most important elements of it and to set out why I believe that the programme delivers on our party’s core priorities and values.
And in explaining our approach to the next government there are two overall themes which underpin everything.
First, at this time of huge uncertainty, we have to act to protect our economy, our place in the world and our shared future.
It must be a government which secures things which matter, a government which delivers long-term success for Ireland and a government which is not just focused just on day to day matters.
And second, we have to deliver sustained progress on critical social, environmental and economic needs. A government which is determined to achieve social progress. A government which understands the need to deliver safe communities and an inclusive society.
Protecting Ireland’s future in a time of uncertainty and sustained action to address critical needs. These are the two central foundations for the new government.
Let me explain in more detail what that means.
Protecting Ireland’s Future
If there is one thing we can be certain of, it is that we will face many new challenges in the next five years.
We must be ready to overcome new threats both at home and internationally. We must work to strengthen our position in the face of these new threats, setting a clear course where we shape our own future.
Strengthening Ireland in Europe and Globally
A priority for us in this programme for government is the absolutely clear commitment it gives to Ireland taking an active and positive role in Europe and wider global affairs.
We are determined that Ireland will not just sit back and be buffeted by international events. We must be clear about where we stand and what our role is.
As the party which brought Ireland into membership of the now European Union, a Euro-positive approach is a fundamental requirement for us in any government.
Today Europe is under attack from many sides. Political groups within its border and beyond, are seeking to undermine it – promoting the type of politics which has done so much damage to our nearest neighbour.
We will seek a reformed and strengthened Europe. We will work with other, like-minded countries to support the rule of law, to oppose anti-democratic behaviour and to push a new agenda of growth and cooperation.
We will hold the Presidency of the Council next year. We will make sure that Ireland makes a positive and lasting impact in this critical role.
Ireland’s military neutrality will remain fully preserved. And within Europe we will respect the decisions of other countries who take a different approach and who face very real existential threats.
Preparing your defence against very real threatened aggression is not being warlike, and we must respect their determination to protect their democratic societies.
And we will invest in further developing the capabilities of Óglaigh na hÉireann. We will complete vital reforms and ensure that they continue to build on their proud tradition of defending us and our values both at home and internationally.
And central to these values is our belief in rules-based cooperation between nations. The promotion of peace and humanitarian values will be central to our work in government.
Along with the rest of the world, we strongly welcome the ceasefire in Gaza. The collective punishment of the people of Gaza could never be justified. We will do all we can to help in the reconstruction of Gaza and in ensuring a surge in humanitarian aid to overcome the unfolding catastrophe. And we assert once again that the only sustainable route to peace remains the realisation of a two-state solution.
And while we remain resolute in our condemnation of the scale and intensity of Israel’s actions, let no one be in doubt, we utterly condemn the savagery of Hamas, an organisation which has brought nothing but misery and destruction to the people they claim to serve.
We want to work with other countries to highlight the urgent need to protect civilians in conflicts. As we have seen in conflicts such as Sudan, Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and the Russian and Assad aggression in Syria, civilians are now often a primary target in the conduct of war. We are determined that the new government will use every opportunity to take a stand on this core value.
In the week of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz it is essential to be clear that there should be no place for antisemitism in Ireland – and that is why the new government will take consistent action to support the stand against antisemitism.
Strong Government Finances
Our work in Europe and internationally will be focused on securing Ireland’s position, but we also have to remember the central role which strong public finances play in making sure that we can get through whatever crises emerge.
The new programme for government sets out a clear commitment to making sure that Ireland has sufficient resources to protect public services well into the future and also to deliver critical investments.
As a core part of this we will protect and grow the reserve funds which Fianna Fáil created in the last two years.
Investment
As we argued during the election, we believe that Ireland needs a period of significant and accelerated capital investment. We need this to secure our economy and to address urgent national priorities. We need to make sure that we have safe and reliable roads. We must continue to invest in public transport, in our bus rail and active travel programmes. We must reduce the costs of getting goods to market. We must transform our energy grid, reducing prices for all customers. These and other major investment are a fundamental part of the programme for the new government.
Ireland’s Enterprise Model
In protecting our future we have to renew and protect our enterprise model. Ireland’s success in achieving high levels of employment, investment and incomes cannot be taken for granted and sustained action is required to both prepare Irish enterprise for new challenges and to position Ireland ahead of emerging economic trends.
Support for international trade, pro-enterprise taxation and investment in new products and new markets – these and other measures are a priority for us. We are going to begin a new era in support for research and development, for balanced regional investment and for supporting critical skills.
Every time in our history we have moved ahead economically it is because we have developed new strengths and created new opportunities. This is our work in the next five years.
A Shared Island
The last week saw the 60th anniversary of one of the most important initiatives of Fianna Fáil in government. When Seán Lemass went to Stormont to meet with Terence O’Neill, the message he brought with him was that we had to find a shared agenda. An agenda where we could build new links and understanding.
It is the great tragedy of our recent history that this initiative was undermined, and in particular by an illegitimate 30 year campaign of violent destruction and division fought in the face of the sustained opposition of the Irish people.
But the challenge of moving forward with a shared agenda for all parts of our island continues to be the great challenge to this generation. In the last government we set a new agenda for Ireland with the Shared Island Initiative. It is beginning to have a real impact and we are determined to accelerate its work.
The programme for government before us today commits to €1 billion in extra funding for the initiative. We will move forward on critical road links, developing air links, supporting projects which benefit all communities – and we will complete and open the Narrow Water Bridge.
We are determined that this new government will mark a new defining moment in delivering permanent peace and reconciliation between all parts of our island.
Addressing Critical Needs
Each of the areas I have talked about are critical to protecting our future – to strengthening our ability to overcome long-established and new problems alike.
But we are also determined to address urgent needs across a full range of social, economic, cultural and environmental areas.
The programme for a new government sets out a comprehensive, ambitious and urgent series of actions.
Public Services
In many parts of the world there is an agenda pushed which is focused on rolling-back state services. We reject this ideology. Yes, we must always be vigilant in ensuring that public funds are well spent and that services are appropriate – but there is a need for a further sustained expansion in critical public services and supports - particularly in areas such as housing, disability, pensions, health and education.
Housing
Housing will continue to be a defining challenge over the next five years. We saw earlier this week that our policies succeeded in delivering a record number of housing commencements during 2024. This is never going to be an easy challenge. There will be ups and downs – but the direction of action is clear and will remain clear.
We will build more homes. We will make more affordable and social homes available. We will help renters.
We will make dramatic investments in water and other infrastructure central to home building – and we will implement the largest ever housing investment programme.
This will be a government of sustained action on housing.
Health
Over the last five years we have shown that progress is possible in our health services. Every area of our health services has been expanded, patient outcomes are improving steadily and new services are being developed.
Fianna Fáil’s work on health in recent years will be remembered for sustained investment and improvement. In the years ahead, Stephen Donnelly will be remembered as one of our finest ever Ministers for Health.
Measures which he led, such as the new consultants’ contract and the development of specialist health services for women, will have a growing impact in the next five years. When combined with further investment, this will show again how we have taken on and delivered on some of the greatest challenges facing government.
And this will be the government which made huge strides in using digitalisation as a way of helping patients and medical professionals alike. This will make critical information available immediately and accurately – speeding up and improving the impact of treatment.
It may not sound like a major development, but the programme for digital health we have agreed will be transformative.
Disability services
And we are determined that this new government will mark a new era in the coordination, accessibility and quality of disability services in our country.
Disability will be represented by a full cabinet minister for the first time. We will not only invest in existing services, we will push forward new models of service – especially in supporting children with special needs within our education system.
A wide programme of investment and reform will not solve every problem in a few years, but it will mark a new and permanent move forward in how we support all people with disabilities.
Education
From our first days education has been a consistent priority for Fianna Fáil in government. Driven by policies which we initiated, today we have the lowest class sizes in our history. We have the lowest early school leaving rate in our history. We have the best literacy scores we have ever recorded in international studies. And we have one of the world’s highest levels of third-level qualifications.
The programme for the new government sets out our continued commitment to investment and reform in education. Class sizes will fall further. School development and modernisation with accelerate. Action to ensure inclusion for all will be prioritised.
And we will take charge of the immense challenge of securing the future of higher education, training and research in our country.
Our future depends on us ensuring we have enough skills in our country, that we have high quality graduates and the we invest in developing the ideas and products which will be the foundation for future economic success.
This is a big challenge and one we are looking forward to.
Communities
We also want to deliver a new era in support for communities, both urban and rural.
We have agreed to develop and implement a series of initiatives which will help communities develop, protect key services and show that, as a country, we can move forward together.
Within this, we are affirming the important of farm families and our agrifood industry as a whole.
This is our strongest national industry. It is at the core of communities and culture throughout our country. In Europe and nationally, this new government will promote the interests of rural Ireland. We will promote the fundamental role of food security and secure income supports as critical to Europe’s strength.
Climate action
As we said during the election, in too many areas the false idea had been promoted that you can either support the economy or protect the environment, but you can’t do both. We reject this idea.
The new government will be absolutely committed to delivering on Ireland’s responsibility to address the climate crisis – and we will also be resolute in taking action to protect and promote our nature and biodiversity.
Across government, we will support sustainable development – and roll-out action which can both protect livelihoods and our environment.
Safe Communities
During the election we made it clear that a new government must take renewed action to deliver safe communities for our people. We will lead this effort and take concerted action in every part of the country.
We will expand the numbers of Gardai, introduce new units and measures against anti-social behaviour, and we will reform the Department of Justice.
The very real pressures of immigration will be addressed through a united structure, and growing threats to our national security will be tackled through a range of new measures.
Safety and security will be high on the agenda of the new government.
Bhí cultúr láidir náisiúnta i gcónaí mar chroílár aidhmeanna Fhianna Fáil.
Creideann Fianna Fáil i bhféiniúlacht Éireannach atá muiníneach, fadradharcach agus a bheidh ag síorathrú.
Féiniúlacht atá nua-aimseartha agus idirnáisiúnta agus a chosnaíonn do na glúinte atá le teacht na codanna is fearr dár dtraidisiúin.
Seo an fáth go bhfuil an Clár Nua Rialtais seo ag leagan amach ár dtiomantas chun tacú leis na healaíona agus tacaíocht a chur ar fáil freisin do mheáin chumarsáide láidir, saineolach agus neamhspleách.
Táimid chun deiseanna nua a chur ar fáil chun a bheith rannpháirteach sna healaíona agus sa chultúr chomh maith.
In any coalition a practical political agreement is required. My priority in this has been to put in place arrangements which will not just deliver stability, they will deliver good and effective government.
It will have the numbers required to get on with its business, and commitments have been outlined which can make sure that we have a government based on respect, honest discussion and a clear programme.
The arrangements it sets out are fair and give certainty about the tasks we face.
And we have collective responsibility for all policy commitments and not just those where we hold the senior ministry.
In the two pillars of this programme for government, protecting our future and addressing critical needs, we have agreed a comprehensive and ambitious programme.
It is a programme which is true to the traditions and values of our party.
I believe that this is a moment of both challenge and opportunity for Ireland. We have many serious issues to be concerned with. We can take nothing for granted.
There is much to be done, and this programme for government can deliver for the people of our country.
I recommend to you, our members, that we agree this programme and enter a government which will, over the next five years, move our country forward, together.