Ahern: Ireland to clean up under Fianna Fáil

Ireland will become one of the most competitive countries in the world under the leadership of Fianna Fáil, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern claimed tonight.

Mr Ahern formally launched the campaign for the local and European elections in June by listing his party’s achievements and hopes for the future at its Ard Fheis in Dublin .

The Taoiseach told 5,000 delegates at the City West Conference Centre the resourcing of local government was at the heart of his party’s agenda.

“Under the Local Government Fund, record funding has gone to local authorities for better local services,” he said.

Mr Ahern said radical steps were achieving real results in local communities.

“The plastic bag charge and the landfill levy are cleaning up our country and paying for recycling,” he said.

“Since the last local elections, we have doubled the number of bottle banks.

“From a standing start of zero, we now have door to door recycling for one third of all Irish homes.”

Mr Ahern also signalled the introduction of a new system of paying by volume for domestic rubbish.

“This policy will be applied nationwide from 2005,” he said.

“Recycling will be rewarded. Waste less and you will pay less; pollute and you will pay more.”

Mr Ahern said rural housing was central to generating real regional development across the country.

“We believe in a rural Ireland of living communities,” he said.

“We believe that people who are born in an area, who live in an area and who contribute to an area should be entitled to build their home in that area.

“That is Fianna Fáil policy, that is Government policy, that is our philosophy.”

Mr Ahern emphasised the importance of local government, as separate from national politics.

“That is why we have ended the dual mandate for TDs and Senators,” he said.

“The councillors we elect on June 11 will be local voices, not national politicians.

“Over 800 candidates are standing for Fianna Fáil. They are community activists and they are local leaders.

“They are practical, they are capable, they are the best of Fianna Fáil, and together we will win.”

Mr Ahern said that when he began in politics, the challenge was to persuade anyone that change could ever come.

“Now the challenge is to explain why change does not come fast enough,” he said.

“I take pride in the rising tide of expectation that this Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrat Government have helped to create.

“I salute An Tánaiste Mary Harney and our partners in Government, together we take seriously the challenge to aim higher and to do better.”

Mr Ahern said what Ireland has accomplished so far is only the prologue for what we have yet to do.

“Our programme for the future is a practical agenda for addressing the people’s priorities,” he said.

“It will marry the strength to take difficult decisions with the vision to see radical, sustainable and long term policies through.”