Dáil debates
Thursday, 23 January 2025
Taoiseach a Ainmniú (Atógáil) - Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed)
3:55 am
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source
As I look at Ireland today, it is clear that there can be a degree of cynicism towards politics. Too often we dismiss the motivation of others, especially those we disagree with. I reject this. I believe in the good faith of those who seek to serve their communities in elective office, and I believe that politics remains a force for good - a force for positive change. I hope that we can have a co-operative Oireachtas in the coming years where we try to emphasise positive discussion. For my part, I intend to remain open to constructive ideas from Deputies from all parts of the House.
When nominating members of the new Government, I will address more specific policy points, but it is important to state the core principles on which I intend to lead the Government. When reflecting on the legacy of republicanism from the 1916 generation of which he was a part, Seán Lemass always stressed the idea of responding to the needs of today and shaping the future. For him, true republicanism was not about following the past, it was about a willingness to move on and create new ways forward. He summed this up with his favourite quote from Pádraig Pearse - “every generation has its task”. For us today, for this generation of political leaders, the task is to protect Ireland’s strength at a moment of real threat, while also addressing critical social needs.
By any reasonable measure, this is a challenging moment in world history. Ireland is an open democracy with an open economy. We cannot expect to stand unaffected on the sidelines. We must protect and renew an economic model which delivers high employment and resources for public services. Central to this we must strengthen our three essential relationships with Europe, with the United States and with the United Kingdom. Europe is the essential foundation upon which we rely. This week marks the anniversary of the day Jack Lynch and Patrick Hillery signalled our commitment to a European future by signing the Treaty of Accession. The Government I lead will work every day in the same spirit. We will work to help reform and strengthen the European Union. We will work with others to overcome urgent economic, environmental and political challenges which threaten our shared interests and values. We will not flinch in our support for protecting Europe’s freedom and democracy.
Our relationship of kinship with the United States is older than our State. It has endured because we have continued to renew bonds of respect and co-operation. We are not naive about the realities of change but, equally, the Ireland-America relationship is one which benefits us both and it will emerge strongly no matter what. The United Kingdom remains a close social, cultural and economic neighbour for us, and we will begin operating a new systematic approach to consultation and co-operation. Internationally, we will be an active voice for the values of peace, co-operation and development. We will follow the profoundly welcome ceasefire in Gaza with a sustained programme of humanitarian and reconstruction aid. We will do this through co-operation with the World Food Programme and UNRWA.
Protecting and renewing Ireland’s economic strength and standing in the world must, as I have said, also be accompanied by sustained action on other urgent needs. Sixty years ago this month Seán Lemass went to Stormont to meet Terence O’Neill. They agreed that we should be able to promote our constitutional objectives while also working together for shared development. It is a great tragedy that their new departure then was not allowed to achieve more. The new Government will push forward on the historic task of building a lasting reconciliation. We will implement the largest ever programme of North-South research and investment, opening critical links and building both engagement and understanding through a further strengthened shared island initiative.
Too many people are struggling to afford a home to buy or rent. Helping them will be a priority for the new Government and for the Dáil. Too many people with disabilities and their families have to fight too hard to access the services they deserve. We must begin a new era in support for them, not just increasing resources but step-changing the scale, nature and delivery of services. This is not the work of one Minister, it must be the work of every part of Government and of this Oireachtas. We must deliver both resources and reform to help all our children to get the best start in life, through smaller classes, community development programmes and targeting resources to help families experiencing poverty. We must protect nature and biodiversity and move forward in tackling the existential problem of climate change.
In all of this, the Government I will lead will reject the sterile politics of the extremes, the empty gestures of those who want to impose inflexible ideologies when addressing issues which are as complex and diverse as our people. Mine will be a Government which seeks to work in a spirit of practical republicanism - a spirit which has helped our country achieve so much in the past and which is essential if we are to meet the challenges of today; a spirit which will create equality of opportunity for all, which will work to underpin and promote the status, dignity and independence of people with disabilities; a spirit that will build more houses at an accelerated pace and that will work every day to build reconciliation between the different traditions on the island of Ireland.
I mo ról mar Thaoiseach ar an Rialtas nua seo ag tréimhse chorraitheach mhíshuaimhneach timpeall na cruinne, tá aidhm láidir agam obair leanúnach gan stad a dhéanamh gach aon lá mar Thaoiseach chun an tír seo a chur chun cinn, buntáistí agus luachanna na hÉireann a léiriú thar lear agus gan amhras beidh an Rialtas ag dul i ngleic leis na dúshláin mhóra timpeall orainn inniu. Geallaim daoibh go mbeidh mé ag freastal ar mo dhícheall ar son na tíre seo. Go raibh míle maith agaibh agus ní neart go cur le chéile.
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