The failure, or refusal, of political correspondents to analyse or even describe Fianna Fail properly is one of the most dramatic examples of negligence in the Irish media. This is not just a media failing, it is also a political device of rival parties which, fearing a proper political debate, highlight scandals, real, alleged or exaggerated.

The reality is that all the main parties have been embarrassed by revelations involving their members. Fianna Fail has a handful of large personalities embroiled in what are, admittedly, serious controversies. But attempts to paint the whole party as one big criminal conspiracy are cheap, dishonest and completely a historical, as well as an evasion of political debate.

The history of Fianna Fail has in effect been the history of post-independence Ireland. The party was founded at a time when the bitter legacy of the Civil War and severe economic hardship were just two of the prevailing problems.

Three-quarters of a century later Fianna Fail, in terms of an invariably large percentage of the popular vote, and its length of time in office, has become, with the sole exception of the Swedish Social Democrats, Europe's most successful political party.

On the eve of our 64th ardfheis, Fianna Fail can look back with a sense of pride on our contribution to Irish society. While some may loathe us and while, according to recent opinion polls, a lot more like us, nobody can ignore us.

The party has been a vehicle for change, transforming this country for the better into an open, democratic and prosperous republic.

Fianna Fail has played a distinguished role in every major national advance. Our founders' names are synonymous with Ireland's struggle for national freedom. It was subsequently the endeavours of successive Fianna Fail governments that secured the economic foundation of independence.

From the steps taken in the 1960s by Sean Lemass, towards industrial development and economic self-support, to the innovative role played by the current Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, in negotiating successive partnership agreements from the late 1980s on, Fianna Fail has been the political engine that drove national regeneration.

This ardfheis has chosen the theme of "a better Ireland for all" and this has always been central to Fianna Fail vision. At its inaugural meeting at the La Scala Theatre, Dublin, on May 16th, 1926, Eamon de Valera said the aim of the new party was "the reuniting of the Irish people" in the pursuit of not only national freedom, but of the social and economic benefit of all our citizens.

This was political rhetoric, of course; but it was more than that. De Valera led his party on to the government benches for the first time in 1932. Since then, Fianna Fail has made a real difference.

It was Fianna Fail which undertook a massive social housing programme and cleared the slums. It was Fianna Fail which gave us our Constitution, the embodiment of our independence, where the aspirations and traditions of all denominations and all legitimate interests are recognised and acknowledged.

It was Fianna Fail, too, which implemented enlightened social legislation creating the welfare state and building up our public health service. Later it was Fianna Fail which provided free secondary education for the first time and did so much to improve conditions for the elderly.

In those days, personalised attacks and hysterical smears about crypto-communists, IRA conspiracies and the like also substituted for real political debate. But these economic and social measures were hardly carried out by gunmen or subversives.

This ardfheis is an important opportunity for the party membership to rededicate ourselves to the proposition that Fianna Fail has a proud tradition and to build on that legacy of achievement. Our new-found economic prosperity has presented us with the chance of fulfilling the potential for social justice and a higher quality of life sought by the generations of Irish men and women.

The key message underlying this ardfheis is that we must now seize the opportunity to translate our economic growth into a better quality of life for all our people. In Government, we are working hard to solve old problems, to heal old divisions and to bring further progress into Irish life. Fianna Fail has been entrusted with the responsibility to shape the Ireland of the 21st century.

But to do this we need discipline as well as dedication. This ardfheis will deal with significant proposals to reinvigorate Fianna Fail. Every member has a role to play in helping the party pursue policies which will benefit all our people. ail organisation is alive to the challenges of today's Ireland.

Fianna Fail is a party built on strong ethical foundations. The spirit of Fianna Fail at its best is a party that represents all the people of Ireland. Political opponents sometimes admit this implicitly by dismissing us as populist.

While many in this generation of Fianna Fail have learnt the highest standards of public service from those who have gone before us, the dishonourable actions of a few have obscured the work of many people, not alone in Fianna Fail but right across the body politic.

While it is for those in judicial authority to determine the facts of those matters which are still under investigation, it is our responsibility as a party to ensure there can be no deviation from the high standards Fianna Fail members have a right to expect.

Make no mistake about the anger inside my party at those among us who have seriously betrayed their own party. It is ordinary Fianna Fail members who have most to complain about in this regard, not those who would be hostile to Fianna Fail in any case, for entirely different and deep-seated political reasons.

Those who have always had privilege and position, old money and long-entrenched power, always resented and feared Fianna Fail's new broom.

But anger at the recent chicanery of three or more leading Fianna Fail personalities is felt most genuinely and deeply by grassroots members.

Those who followed Charlie Haughey in the face of specious attacks by a hostile opposition and media now feel a far greater sense of disillusionment than those who disliked Haughey and others in my party for all the wrong reasons.

Fianna Fail sees it as our duty to try to renew Irish democracy and to build faith once again in our public life. Under Bertie Ahern's leadership, we are providing good, honest and transparent government and we have implemented an array of legislation covering a wide range of ethical issues.

As a further stage in the process, Fianna Fail has become the first and so far the only Irish political party to pledge itself to a code of conduct.

We are determined to build a culture of accountability in our party, in our political system and in public life. The mandatory code for officeholders and candidates which is being put before the ardfheis this weekend aims to ensure a better brand of politics. This is important, because better politics is the bridge to a better future for all our people.

As usual, it is Fianna Fail that will provide real reform.

Willie O'Dea is Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science