As we meet together for the first time in two and a half years to discuss the big issues facing our country the agenda is broader and more challenging than anything we could have imagined before.
We are still managing the many impacts of the biggest public health emergency in a century. We face ongoing challenges to provide housing, to modernise our education and to make our health services accessible to all when they need them.
This is the work which we are undertaking every day in government – and there is no doubt that Fianna Fáil in government is making a difference on behalf of the people of our country.
But we are today also confronted with the reality of the largest war of aggression seen in Europe in over 75 years.
A war of aggression which is a direct attack on the basic democratic ideals and freedoms cherished not just here but in countries throughout Europe and much of the world.
This is a defining moment for everyone who truly cares about democracy, about human rights and about the idea of strong cooperation between nations.
As we are seeing every day, the struggle of the Ukrainian people has deeply touched the Irish people. Ours is one of the longest continuous democracies in the world, but it is impossible to miss the close parallels of our history with that of Ukraine.
A people long subject to control by an imperial power has been asserting its right to control its own destiny. There has been a sustained attempt to undermine their national legitimacy, culture and language – but they have persevered.
An for a decade and a half now they have sought to assert their belief in the European destiny of Ukraine – a belief that a strong, rules-based community of European nations is the best protecting of our independence and values.
Ukraine’s intentions have always been peaceful. It is one of only two countries in history which voluntarily gave up nuclear weapons. It has made no claims on the territory of neighbours and it not seek to build an army which could threaten others.
In spite of constant interference and attempts to undermine their independence, the people of Ukraine have repeatedly said that they want to live in a free, democratic and European country.
Let no one be in any doubt, we stand with Ukraine.
We stand with Ukraine both in it’s moment of greatest threat and in its determination to achieve the security of membership of the European Union.
We will continue to support its people as they seek refuge. We will continue to aid those who have remained in their homes. And we will continue to support strong and sustained action against Putin’s regime.
Next week President Zelensky will address Dáil Éireann from Kyiv. This address will not change the course of the war he and his people have been forced to fight – but it will be an important moment of solidarity and it will remind us all that international issues, and in particular those in Europe, must be a part of our national political discourse.
I recently heard it suggested that that Ukraine was ignored in our politics in the past. That’s simply not true. The record of the Dáil shows that over the last decade Fianna Fáil has been consistently speaking out against the behaviour of Russia and in favour of the territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine.
The record also shows that one party was consistent in its refusal to defend Ukraine and to support action against Russia. Today that party is desperately trying to wipe away the record of its policies and pretend that it has never backed Putin’s regime. Fortunately they might be able to erase their own websites but they cannot erase the record of the Dáil or the record of the European parliament or the work of journalists who have, in the face of constant online abuse, reported on their behaviour.
For far too long we have, as a country, ignored the fact that there are real differences between parties in where they stand on Ireland’s place in the world. We have allowed those who advocate a radical realignment of our position to get along without being held to account for their views.
This year we mark 50 years of our membership of the European Union – a membership which has been central to our progress.
Every poll shows that this is understood by the people and there is overwhelming support for the idea that Ireland should both be a member and be a positive member.
Yet in spite of this Ireland’s delegation to the European Parliament is one of the most anti-EU. One third of our MEPs are reliable votes for attacking the EU and defending those who challenge it. They are absolutely consistent is claiming that the EU is an aggressor and determined to undermine the independence of its members. Some have even gone as far as to tour the world giving support to authoritarian regimes and selling the idea that the EU and West are evil.
Yet with the exception of a handful of courageous journalists, they have not been held to account – or they have been allowed get away with their constant “what about” nonsense where someone else is to blame for everything.
The far right and the far left are indistinguishable in this.
Ours is a proudly pro-EU party - one which believes that democratic values cannot be taken for granted, they must be protected. We will do whatever it takes to work with other countries to defend these values.
Working within the EU we have the ability to direct vital aid to Ukraine and to work with others to stand against Russia. These and meeting our humanitarian commitments to Ukrainians seeking refuge will continue to be our priorities for the moment. Other matters about our permanent policies need a proper, informed and inclusive debate before decisions can be taken.
However, I would say this – there can be no question as to where Ireland stands and there can be no question about the fact that we understand that we are affected by international events.
In the sea and air around our island we have seen actions taken which have no innocent explanation. The fact that we do not have the capacity to carry out key functions is something we simply have to address.
At the same time our commitment to working with our European partners has to be reinforced. Our coordination and shared activities with others over the last twenty years have proven that this activity if a benefit to us and aids European security. We have to look for ways to build on this.
And we have to be vigilant in protecting our democracy from those who use division and disinformation as a weapon. Throughout the democratic world parties of the far left and right have been supported and there have been active campaigns to destroy the centre ground of politics.
Let no one be naïve enough to say that this can’t happen here – we’ve seen aggressive disinformation campaigns here especially on European topics.
That’s why the electoral reform law we published this week will be strengthened to provide ways of monitoring disinformation and protecting our democracy from those who ignore or operate outside of our laws.
Fianna Fáil is today, as it has always been, a proud Irish republican party. We believe that the way to unleash the full cultural, economic and social potential
of everyone on this island is for us to be together. Where we differ from others, is that we believe that the only way to build this future is for us all to work together to fight sectarianism, to build bridges between communities and to secure a prosperity for all.
True republicanism is not about playing politics or putting party first, it’s about to serve all of the people – not just your own. To be concerned about all injustices – not just those against your own. And most of all to be willing to change and evolve.
For me there is no greater disrespect that we can pay to generations of true republicans than to say that they failed to create new possibilities.
The Good Friday Agreement is a brilliant blueprint for building a new future because has as its foundation a democratic and inclusive view of this island.
And unfortunately far too often the spirit of the Agreement has been ignored. Civic society has not been given a voice – and the opportunity to focus on sectarianism and disadvantage has been missed.
And in Dublin politics and media Northern Ireland was often ignored as an issue until there was a crisis at hand.
Just as we were central to creating the Agreement so too we will be central to creating new possibilities – and the first step in this is undertaking the type of basic work which should have been done a long time ago in building understanding and cooperation.
The Shared Island Initiative is the first time that there is a systematic approach to trying to study what we share, where we differ and where we can benefit from working together. It’s the first time that there is a systematic approach to building connections – both physically and networks of interest.
It’s not about reciting the old lines – it’s about actually doing something and I have no doubt that this will have a lasting impact.
The fundamental reason why the members of Fianna Fáil decided in such overwhelming numbers to agree to us participating in this government is because we want to deliver for our country and the communities we serve.
And that’s why we have taken on such tough challenges.
The pandemic has been a once in a century public health emergency and I believe any fair person will look at how Ireland has done and recognise the government’s work in leading a highly effective response.
But we have also shown action on issues beyond the pandemic.
We are determined to make a long-term difference on health – and have been putting in place major service reforms and expansions in critical areas like women’s health, mental health and tackling waiting times.
We understand the urgency of increasing the number of houses available to people and that action is required across all types of housing. The closure of building sites during the lockdowns had a big impact, but in spite of this we are starting to see a step-change in the number of homes being built throughout the country.
A new era in building social and affordable housing has begun – and because of the determination of the new Minister and government we have been able to reduce the negative impact of the aggressive efforts of one party to try to block new projects. For them, housing is too important as an electoral tactic to ever support action to deliver housing. But we all saw on the Primetime debate, that their policies fall apart under basic scrutiny.
From our earliest days education has been a priority for Fianna Fáil. We started every major expansion in education provision and led reform. In this government we have already delivered a significant increase in resources for education and we are now going further. The funding and quality of higher education is a priority for this government, and we are committed to making sure that Irish universities and colleges maintain high international standards.
Earlier this week we announced our intention to move ahead with the first broad reform of the leaving certificate in fifty years. The Leaving Certificate has served our country well in the past – but it has serious weaknesses which have to be addressed.
Ireland is nearly unique in the extent to which we rely on once-off, externally assessed written exams. We don’t reward deeper work and we miss the opportunity to foster a broader range of skills. The reform process we announced this week is about keeping the best of what we currently do and combining it with the best of what is done in other systems.
Reforms we implemented over twenty years ago helped Ireland to climb to near the top of the school completion tables in the developed world. Irish schools and Irish education as a whole does well when it embraces reform and works together to implement it. We have no intention of moving to the constantly changing and inconsistent approach seen in some countries – but the need for these changes is clear and so too will be the benefit to pupils.
And we must never forget that we have no time to waste in tackling the existential threat of climate change. There is no time left, we have no choice- action on every possible front is essential and this government is determined to act. We’re already implementing a broad and challenging series of measures to address climate change and protect our biodiversity. And events of the past month have again shown how exposed we all are when we rely on certain fuels. Real and substantive action on climate change will be one of our most important legacies.
This is time of many serious challenges, but it is also a time of great opportunity.
In the face of often tremendous odds we have built a country which is one of the longest established democracies in to world.
We have grown and become international leaders in many areas.
We have serious problems to tackle, but we have overcome bigger ones in the past.
In this government, and always, we are a republican party devoted to delivering sustained progress for the Irish people.
Our focus will continue to be on developing good public services. On securing an economy which can sustain good jobs. On investing in schools and housing. On creating new possibilities for bringing the people of this island together. And committing Ireland to being an active and positive member of the international community of democratic states.
This is the tradition our party was founded in and the tradition we remain determined to honour.