Bertie Ahern today told a conference on the social doctrine of the Catholic Church today that dignity of the individual has been at the centre of his political vision.
He told the Dublin conference, which accompanies the publication of a Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, that Christian values have informed Irish thinking and were relevant to both social and economic matters.
"If I were to focus on one thing that has been at the centre of my political vision, it is the dignity of the human person," Mr Ahern said.
"Whether seeking advances in the economic and social conditions in the State, building improved relationships on the island of Ireland, engaging in closer partnerships in Europe or addressing our national responsibilities towards global needs and targets, I have sought to maintain a central focus on the effects of decisions on the lives of individual people, today and in the future."
He noted the Catholic Church had been a proponent of trade unions "as promoters of the struggle for social justice and for the rights of workers". At the same time,
this was consistent with unions' responsibilities in creation of wealth and the "social, political and cultural conditions that permit all to exercise their right to work with dignity".
The church's position was reflective of Ireland's social partnership model, which also puts due emphasis on property rights and the free market "as an effective instrument" for attaining justice.
"The church teaches, however, that no economic system can be entirely free, and sustainable, at the same time: it must be firmly rooted in ethical objectives, which ensure the achievement of solidarity and the defence of the weak", Mr Ahern said.
There was also a Christian underpinning of international policy. He said the solidarity shown by richer members states when Ireland joined the EU would now be returned to the recent accession countries, he continued.
"We fully accept that we should support the efforts of our new partners in Central and Eastern Europe to develop their economic and social systems. This means that Ireland will gradually become a net contributor to the budget of the EU. This is as it should be."
He said Ireland's historical experience meant it had "a special sense of solidarity" with under-developed countries, noting "the immense contribution our missionaries . . . [to] the poorest of the poor".
The high level of absolute poverty in the world was morally unacceptable and he had the support of the Irish people in increasing overseas aid budget, Mr Ahern said. He reiterated the Government's revised commitment to allocate 0.7 per cent of GNP by 2012 to foreign development programmes.
The Compendiumrightly put emphasis on the importance of the citizen's role in governance. However, while this was in line with Christian thinking it did not undermine the separation of Church and State, Mr Ahern continued
He referred to the Second Vatican Council, which "solemnly affirmed that the political community and the Church are mutually independent and self-governing".
"That is not to imply a form of separation that requires distance or excludes cooperation. The church argues that the good of all is best achieved if church and State work better, for wholesome mutual cooperation, in a way suitable to the circumstances of time and place."
Mr Ahern said the Christian message for those in government was to govern well by seeking the wisdom to govern justly. He noted, however, that in his experience citizens are inclined to blame governments for everything, "even for bad weather and poor sports results, without giving us any credit when things go well".
Among those attending the conference were Cardinal Martino, head of the Vatican's Council for Justice and Peace; Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin; and Chancellor of Oxford University Chris Patten.