Fianna Fáil has officially registered as a political party in Northern Ireland with the Northern Ireland Electoral Commission, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern announced last night. Mark Hennessy, Political Correspondent, reports.
Speaking to about 2,000 Fianna Fáil supporters, Mr Ahern said the registration "marks a historic step for us on the road to developing a strategy" for the party's development in Northern Ireland.
In September, Mr Ahern set up a party commission under the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, to carry out a year-long inquiry into the organisation's views on the issue.
Speaking at the annual Cáirde Fáil Taoiseach's dinner, Mr Ahern formally welcomed two new cumainn to the party, representing Queens University Belfast and the University of Ulster in Derry.
He said it was "lovely" to see the Northern Ireland First Minister, Dr Ian Paisley, "a great friend of mine, as you know", and Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, working together in the United States this week.
Describing the election victory as "a phenomenal achievement" for Fianna Fáil, Mr Ahern said he was "grateful" to the public for their "votes, their confidence and their judgment".
The list of distinguished visitors attending the annual Taoiseach's dinner "celebrating three consecutive terms in government" was led by former president Dr Patrick Hillery and his wife Maeve.
The deputy leader of the SDLP, Alasdair McDonnell, former Irish goalkeeper, Packie Bonner, and Roger McMurrow, who climbed Mount Everest last May, also attended.
"We fought hard in the last election because we understand the consequences of elections. We know that if the nation takes the wrong path, all the progress that some take for granted can be lost.
"The commitment shown in the run-up to May's election will long be remembered as one of the strongest political performances ever," the Taoiseach told the gathering at the Citywest hotel .
The 2008 Budget, he said, was "prudent" and "a blueprint for the future" and the Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen, had shown "the economic leadership which this country needs.
"It will help us to build for the years ahead and it provides the road map that Ireland needs to guide us through a period of international economic turbulence," he said.
He went on: "Based against a backdrop of slowing yet strong economic growth, Fianna Fáil must not - and will not - take the easy options for short-term gain.
"Caution and good sense in difficult times will put us in a strong position to react and benefit from any upturns in the world economy."