This is an edited version of the speech delivered by Taoiseach Enda Kenny at the Fine Gael Ardfheis.
JUST OVER A year ago, the Irish people turned to Fine Gael and the Labour Party at a time of national crisis.
We told the people then that it was time to get Ireland working again and that our plan was designed to make that happen.
The Irish people gave us their support and their trust in historic numbers.
I thank you for your trust. Thank you for your belief, and for your patience, and for your sacrifice.
You gave us a mandate and a responsibility to clear away the air of fear and uncertainty.
To get our country moving in the right direction again.
Therefore, as we gather at this ardfheis, our purpose cannot be one of celebration. We will not celebrate until Ireland has reason to celebrate. Tonight, unemployment remains too high. Too many families are struggling to make ends meet. Too many worry about losing their homes. Too many of our children are still moving away.
Our purpose now must be to redouble our efforts, to work even harder to deliver our plan.
This Government has made a solid start, but we have a long way to go. Fine Gael and Labour are providing Ireland with a strong and stable government.
Our first priority was to stabilise the economy. That meant a tough budget in which we had to make very difficult choices.
The public finances are coming under control, and the budget deficit will be down to 3 per cent of GDP by 2015. We have downsized and recapitalised the banking system. Investor confidence is starting to return. Deposits are flowing back into our banks and several multi-national companies have announced investments to create further jobs, and others intend to follow.
Exports are performing strongly due to our improved competitiveness. Ireland’s international standing is being restored.
Over the past year, the Tánaiste and I, along with the other members of the Government, have worked hard to convince international political and business leaders that Ireland now has a serious government with a serious plan.
Crucial to that mission has been proving our determination to tackle the economic problems we inherited.
Our commitments under the EU-IMF agreement are being delivered in full and on time. The interest rates on these loans have been reduced, saving us €10 billion. The interest rates on Irish government bonds have fallen steadily. We have made a start on jobs.
Our first budget saw no increase in income tax. Because taxing work damages jobs.
Our first jobs initiative helped create 6,000 jobs in the tourism and hospitality sectors. Already, 20,000 men and women have taken up training places on schemes including JobBridge and Springboard. We have made it much easier for foreign investors to visit and create jobs in Ireland.
We have also made a start on reforming the political system itself.
We cut ministerial pay and transport costs. The entitlements of former taoisigh have been withdrawn. Work is continuing on legislation to reduce the size of the Dáil, and to prepare for a referendum for the abolition of the Seanad. I believe that more women should become involved in Irish politics.
To encourage more women into politics we are linking State funding of political parties to the level of female participation in elections. Parties, including our own, will be penalised if they do not fulfil these conditions.
We are continuing to reform the wider public sector. We are reducing the size and cost of the public service, and radically cutting the number of State agencies.
The shameful and corrupt practices revealed in the Moriarty and Mahon tribunal reports must never be allowed to happen again. That’s why this Government is taking firm action to break the link between business and political funding.
Our new laws on political funding will ban corporate donations over €200 to a political party unless they are registered and declared.
We will create a register of lobbyists and enact new laws to give protection to those who discover and report unethical behaviour.
While the steps we have taken in the first year have brought stability, we recognise that some of the pledges we made have not been delivered. We had intended to legislate to end upward-only rent reviews, but this has proven to be impossible because of constitutional difficulties.
We kept our promise to increase mortgage interest relief for people who bought their homes at the height of the property boom, but mortgage arrears remain a serious problem for far too many families.
We have made some progress in reducing the penal burden on the Irish people of the previous government’s bailout of the banks.
But despite these improvements, this burden remains too heavy.
Let me be clear. I will not throw away the progress we have made in the last year by reneging on our international commitments.
Ireland will NOT default.
But we are determined to ease this burden on our people.
An essential first step – and the Government’s immediate priority – will come at the end of May when the Irish people vote on the European Stability Treaty.
Throughout my recent visits to the United States, and to China this week, the consistent message from both political and business leaders is that they see Ireland’s place as a fully committed member of the euro zone as a crucial element of Ireland’s attractiveness as a location for investment. I cannot overstate it.
In this referendum, we have a brilliant opportunity to say to the world that Ireland believes in the future of the euro, that Ireland is central to the future of the euro zone, that Ireland is four-square with Europe, as together we build a system that will bring responsible budgeting to euro governments and euro nations across the entire euro zone.
This commitment is an investment in our children’s future, and in our country’s future.
Never again will a government be able to behave recklessly and arrogantly with the people’s money.
In recent months alone, numerous multi-national companies have shown their confidence in Ireland by committing to new investments here.
I want to continue and grow this strong flow of inward investment in the future . . . for our future. I want Ireland to have the same access as other countries to the insurance policy of the ESM – a critical reassurance for investors.
We can do this, we can achieve this . . . by voting Yes.
Yes to Europe.
Yes to jobs.
Yes to Ireland.
Yes on May 31st.
As you know, my message while abroad recently has been strong and clear – Ireland is open for business.
I recently signed economic co-operation agreements with China and the United Kingdom, both of which offer significant potential for the future.
We aim to create 100,000 extra jobs by 2016. The plan contains 270 separate actions to remove the barriers to job creation. Actions to cut the cost of red-tape by a quarter. Actions to cut the different employment-rights bodies from five to two.
Banks must become part of the solution to the jobs crisis by meeting their agreed lending targets.
We will also support traditional sectors of the economy, such as the plan to double food exports by 2020.
Action will be taken to ignite new sectors of the economy – such as cloud computing, digital gaming and data content storage.
People on the Live Register must be put at the top of the queue to fill new jobs as they arise. In place of Fás, there will be a one-stop-shop for jobseekers where welfare claims will be processed thoroughly and quickly.
This new person-centred system will identify and help those most at risk of being unemployed long-term. With all the difficult consequences of that.
This Government wants work to pay.
That is why in the last budget we delivered on our commitment not to increase taxes on income and work.
Reforms to the jobseekers’ schemes are being introduced to ensure that people in part-time employment are encouraged to take up full-time employment whenever possible.
I’m frustrated that we haven’t been able to move as fast as we wanted to, to tackle the mortgage crisis.
So, I’ve appointed a temporary Cabinet Committee, which I chair, to drive action.
These steps are to protect our families and to keep our children in the most powerful and precious place they will ever have in their lives: home.
This is a great country with unlimited potential. We are now regarded the world over as being a country on the way back. We have the best young generation on the planet. Our challenge is to harness all these qualities together and nothing will stop us.
We’ve overcome hardship and adversity in the past. We’ve overcome poverty and deprivation in the past. We’ve beaten all these difficulties.
I don’t have all the answers but I do know this: a government that works hard, that brings honesty, clarity and decisiveness in its service of the people will not fail.
It is my privilege to lead such a government and I am proud to do so.
And I look forward to achieving my ambition that, by 2016, we will prove to be the best small country in the world to do business, the best country in which to raise a family, and the best country in which to grow old with dignity and respect.
My government will work with you to fulfil these ambitions in the interest of our future, our country and our children.