Fianna Fail has made "a unique contribution to the development and strengthening of independent Ireland", the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said yesterday at a ceremony to mark the party's 75th anniversary.
Speaking to the Fianna Fail parliamentary party in The Oak Room in the Mansion House, he said the party was once again characterised by a strong team spirit.
"I would be the first to admit that we have also made mistakes in our eagerness for progress. We have put more stringent ethical procedures into place.
"We have co-operated fully with tribunals. We are applying the lessons that have been learnt. While people have every right to demand high standards in high places, we should also acknowledge the good and important things that people did."
He said Ireland could face the future with confidence. "We have made a unique contribution to the development and strengthening of independent Ireland. Fianna Fail is the principal bulwark against the fragmentation of Irish politics. We provide coherence and continuity."
From its foundation, Fianna Fail wanted rid of Civil War politics. "The 1937 de Valera Constitution marked the final establishment of full internal sovereignty and remains to this day as fine a charter of fundamental rights as will be found anywhere."
One of de Valera's finest achievements was to secure Irish neutrality during the second World War. Since then Fianna Fail had maintained it while participating fully in international peacekeeping.
Supporting Ireland's place inside the EU, Mr Ahern said: "Membership of the EU worked for Ireland. Our standard of living has increased from 60 per cent of the EU average to full parity today."
Fianna Fail had reason to be proud of its performance on Northern Ireland, he said, adding that Jack Lynch's government had not received the credit it deserved for its handling of the crisis in the early 1970s.
Mr Ahern also praised Mr Charles Haughey for his work in developing relations with the British in 1980/81, which had been vital "to the success of every initiative since".
Former Taoiseach Mr Albert Reynolds deserved enormous credit for his role, said Mr Ahern, to a round of applause. "He obtained the Downing Street Declaration from John Major and played the key part in procuring the subsequent IRA ceasefire. His government also negotiated nine-tenths of the Framework Document."
The 14 years since 1987 have been the best in Fianna Fail's history, the Taoiseach's special adviser, Dr Martin Mansergh, said last night.
At a party meeting to mark the party's 75th anniversary, Dr Mansergh said the transformation of the economy over that period was a great political achievement. "There has been immense satisfaction in turning around a depressed economy and making it the best prospering bar none," he said.
"Social partnership has been put on a more effective footing. We used EU structural funds well and we have been able to join the single currency. Ireland today is much admired, not just by smaller and less developed countries but even in the US."
