The last year has been "tough" and Fianna Fáil has "taken a few knocks", the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said this evening.
Speaking on the eve of the Fianna Fáil ardfheis in Killarney, Mr Ahern told a special meeting of the Kerry South branch of the party that it must be thick skinned during difficult periods.
"As Taoiseach, I am the first to admit that the last year has been tough. We are in the midst of a global economic downturn and it is unrealistic to expect Ireland to be immune from that," Mr Ahern said.
|
"Accordingly we have taken a few knocks but our skin must be thick enough to live with that," he added.
"And, yes, sometimes we have paid a heavy price for genuine difficult decisions. But I am convinced that the fundamental direction we are leading the country in is right."
Mr Ahern went on to say that unpopular decisions had to be taken to make sure public spending does not get out of control and "drag this country back into economic oblivion."
Referring to health reform Mr Ahern said a solution cannot be achieved overnight "and it certainly cannot be achieved without detailed planning and finally it cannot be achieved without the effort and goodwill of everyone currently working in the system."
"The challenge of achieving change that involves 100,000 people cannot be underestimated - and it's not going to happen without them."
Concluding, Mr Ahern said Fianna Fáil would "do everything to work with the people to ensure Ireland continues on the path of success."
"Over the past 70 weeks, I am convinced that we have set in train a series of key reforms that will allow this country to make further progress in improving services and quality of life in this country for generations to come."
Up to 5,000 Fianna Fáil supporters are expected to converge on Killarney this weekend for the ardfheis.
The meeting is intended as a stocktaking on the current state of the party and an opportunity to debate its approach to the "challenging times" facing the economy.
It is the first time the event has taken place outside of the capital. A full party ardfheis is scheduled for next March in the RDS in Dublin, ahead of the local and European Parliament elections.
Entitled Working, Building, Leading, speakers, including the Taoiseach and Ministers, will attempt to address the growing problems of the public services and the desire by taxpayers to secure better value for their tax euros.
"This ardfheis will see Ministers report to party members on how we are implementing our policy of guiding the country through challenging times while at the same time ensuring a fairer society for all with better services and better value for tax payers money," according to the party Chief Whip, Ms Mary Hanafin.
The meeting comes at a tough juncture for a party that has seen its approval ratings, and those of its leader, tumble to the lowest levels since last year's general election.
Faced with increasing public dissatisfaction at the state of the health and education services and anger at the handling of the child abuse system, the faithful at the Gleneagles Hotel have a tough task before them.
They also will need to sway public perception of the party following the recent revelations surrounding the tax affairs of Mr Michael Collins and the driving of Mr GV Wright. It won't all be work, however - the meeting is to break for a few hours in the afternoon for the Ireland-Switzerland Euro 2004 qualifier.