The Taoiseach has robustly rejected claims that the Government won this year's election by deceit, saying any "rash promises" during the campaign were made by the Opposition.
At the annual Fianna Fáil leader's dinner attended by hundreds of members and supporters last night, Mr Ahern said his party had promised much less than the Opposition.
"Our campaign was based on the capacity of our economy to deliver the necessary resources," he said. "Because we were honest and because we were realistic, we promised less, much less, than any of the other parties.
"They criticised us for not giving in to interest groups and making the same rash promises that they did. Now the same parties who would have mortgaged our future, who would have undone all the progress our country has made, criticise Fianna Fáil for having misled the people.
"If the people were misled it was not by Fianna Fáil. We can stand proudly behind our record. We can stand firmly behind what we said".
He praised party members for securing the "great victory" in the general election. In five years time, Ireland would be "transformed from the country we found 10 years before".
He also strongly defended this week's Budget, maintaining that "fairness as well as prudence" was at its heart. The Budget would "protect our prosperity and consolidate our achievement".
He said Ireland still stood out as a leader of economic growth, despite the current difficulties.The dividends of the economic boom had been invested in infrastructure, social services, future pensioners and tax cuts.
"The Irish economy is strong and with continued strong leadership from Charlie McCreevy, it will continue to grow strongly into the future," he said.
While there were problems, "most of our competitors and neighbours would love to swap their problems for ours. We can and we will continue to provide the additional resources we need for our hospitals, our schools and our pensioners and for our children far into the future."
Noting that yesterday was the 80th anniversary of the foundation of the State, he paid tribute to the role of the Cumann na nGael and Labour Party in the development of the State.
"Fianna Fáil has long honoured Éamon de Valera and Seán Lemass. Eighty years on, it is appropriate that we also acknowledge the contribution of Michael Collins, an inspiring military and political leader; William T. Cosgrave; as well as leaders of the Irish labour movement, all of whom contributed to the moulding of modern Ireland."
He said the Civil War had divided those who built the State, but "while the State was founded in conflict, today we can take a longer view."
This generation of Irish people had greater opportunities than any previous one, he went on.
"If we succeed in this generation, we will be the generation that brought Ireland out of the political turbulence of the 20th century and into a period where a prosperous island, at peace with itself is not only possible but is in the making."