Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

New challenges emerge and old problems remain to be fully resolved. I leave the office of Taoiseach full of faith for the future and full of thanks for the opportunity I have had. Soon a new leader will stand in my stead but between now and then, I will do my job and deal with the Leaders of the Opposition here as best I can, answering the issues of the day.

My deepest wish is that my successor will enjoy the loyalty, support and wise advice that was so unselfishly given to me by my party colleagues and by hard working and honourable public servants, for whom I have huge respect and regard. I just want to put on the record my thanks to them.

Sustaining the hopes of an Ireland that enjoys self confidence at home and widespread respect abroad is a challenge that will require change as much as it will bring continuity. As the challenges are met and difficulties are faced, when pessimism encroaches and cynicism threatens, remember the goodwill and unshakeable faith of the Irish people. My view has always been to put my faith in them. They send us all here, as their representatives and their hope in all our successes is shelter in every storm and true hope in every difficulty. That is what they want to see us doing here, whether in government or in opposition, on the Front Bench, back bench, as Ministers or Ministers of State — they want to see us do well because they do well when we do well.

Some may see the end of a political career as failure. Perhaps in a very narrow and petty sense it is but for me, the only lasting regret I should feel would be the failure of never having tried at all. I have tried and tried again to vindicate the hopes and aspirations that were invested in me. My success, as it may be, is the measure of the unshakeable confidence of the Irish people in this country's future. The future is now at hand and so I say again, as I have said before in another place, Ireland's hour has come. It came not as a victory or a defeat but as a shared future for all. Solidarity has made us stronger and reconciliation has brought us closer. Ireland's hour has come — a time of peace, prosperity, old values and new beginnings. This is a great lesson, the great gift of Irish history. That is what Ireland can give to the world. As I bring my time as Taoiseach to an end, in a month's time, I will recall that Ireland gave me the opportunity to be part of her history and now, at the end, I will submit to the verdict of history.

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