FF celebrates 75th birthday

Fianna Fail is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the party today.

A special meeting in the Mansion House in Dublin will be held to mark the occasion.

Party chairman, Dr Rory O'Hanlon, said that while the party's recent history has been marred by scandals, Fianna Fail has now put such issues behind them.

"I would accept that we have had individuals in the party who none of us would be proud of," he said.

However, he added that when Bertie Ahern had become leader of the party, he "had made it very clear that he was going to deal with issues of that nature".

Dr O'Hanlon said he hoped that Fianna Fail would spend the next 75 years addressing issues such as social inclusion, the upkeep of the economy and regional wealth disparity.