Taoiseach's statement: "We will build an Ireland of pride and great purpose"

The following is the statement issued on behalf of the Taoiseach to announce the dissolution of the Dáil

The following is the statement issued on behalf of the Taoiseach to announce the dissolution of the Dáil

When we first came to Government ten years ago, Ireland faced tremendous challenges. Unemployment was over ten per cent. Our long-term unemployment was over five and one half per cent; taxes were too high and the problems we faced as a society seemed beyond solution.

But much has changed in the last decade. In many ways, this has been the Irish Decade.

We have moved from unemployment and economic downturn to sustained growth; peace on this island is no longer a dream, it is reality; emigration from our shores, which drained our youth and our future, has ended and today Ireland is a place to stay and work, not a place to leave.

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Now, it is time for Ireland to take the Next Steps Forward.

Once again, the moment has arrived for the people to decide Ireland's future. So I will go to see President Mc Aleese at Áras an Uachtaráin and ask her to dissolve the Dáil for the purpose of holding a general election on 24th May 2007. In the weeks ahead I pledge to give the Irish people the campaign they deserve: a campaign of issues and policies, not insults and attacks.

I am more interested in attacking problems than attacking people.

Fianna Fáil has set forth a specific, costed and ambitious programme for Ireland's future. Our Manifesto will outline the programme in detail. It will include specifics, nont empty promises. We will detail how Fianna Fáil in Government: will protect Ireland's prosperity, through a measured program (sic) of tax cuts, balanced budgets and prudent investments; raise pensions to over ¤300 a week; increase investments in schools, health and transportation; we will hire 2,000 more gardaí, raise child benefit even more and protect our farmers and rural communities.

I also want to pay tribute to our colleagues in Government, the Progressive Democrats. The two Governments in which we have served are the first two governments to complete full consecutive terms in Irish history. This stability has been good for our economy, and I believe it has been good for the Irish people. We have not agreed on every issue, but we have had a constructive partnership in Government and I am grateful for their contributions during two consecutive terms of unprecedented peace, progress and prosperity.

This election is about Ireland's future, protecting the progress we have made over the last ten years and building on it. I call on every citizen to participate in our democracy by voting on Election Day. No one knows what the outcome of this election will be.

The people have a real choice and two very different alternatives before them. That choice will frame Ireland's future, and the consequences of this election will be felt for many years to come.

We in Fianna Fáil have never lost our appetite for moving Ireland forward. We have outlined an ambitious programme which will continue to build on the historic change we have made over the last ten years, while preserving an economic strategy which has proven it works in the real world.

Defending Ireland's prosperity has never been more important than it is today, at a time when rising interest rates, energy costs and increased global competition threaten our economy.

Our ambitions for our nation are bold. If the people return us to Government, we will seek to end poverty in Ireland in our next term, while continuing to reduce substantially the net national debt.

We will work for a lasting peace and for unity. We will continue to invest in our people and infrastructure at an unprecedented rate. And we will never make choices which endanger the hard won prosperity that is the result of the work and endeavour of the Irish people.

The Next Steps we have outlined show exactly how we can finish building a fairer, stronger and even more prosperous Ireland.We say to the Irish people, give us your trust, give us your vote and together we will build an Ireland that our children and grandchildren can live and prosper in, an Ireland of pride and great purpose.