The following is a transcript of Bertie Ahern's statement in the Dáil today.
I want to thank Deputies for their kind words and their courtesy. I would be grateful if the House might indulge me in a few words and the short acknowledgements I wish to make at this time.
I am proud to have been elected Taoiseach by this House three times. It has been a great privilege to serve my community and our nation, and I will always be grateful for the opportunity that you and my constituents have given me.
I was first elected Taoiseach on 26th June 1997. The cliche says a week is a long time in politics. I am told that when I leave office on 7th May I will have served 565 weeks as Head of Government. It has been both a long journey and a real pleasure to have played my part in bringing this country forward.
As my time comes to an end, I would like to thank firstly all my ministerial colleagues. I am deeply grateful to all my cabinet colleagues and my Ministers of State who served with me since 1997. They have soldiered with me, they have sustained me and they have served with loyalty and great skill.
I want to acknowledge the wise and skilful advice I received from the Attorneys-General with whom I served, David Byrne, Michael McDowell, Rory Brady and the current AG, Paul Gallagher.
Through my Ministers, I wish to thank their respective Secretary-Generals and departmental staff, who have always provided the Governments I have led with every proper assistance as we endeavoured to do our duty for the people.
I have the height of respect for this country’s civil service and believe they are one of the great cornerstones of our democracy. Over many years, I have found them to be the most impartial, dedicated and talented public service on this continent.
In that regard, I want to also mention the many people who work in our State agencies and Semi-State companies. They have always been most helpful to me in my role as Taoiseach and they too can take great pride in their work for the people.
I want to thank the Secretary to the Government and the Secretary General of my Department, Dermot McCarthy, who encompasses all of the best traditions of the Irish public service. Through him, I want to thank all of the officials at every level in the Department of Taoiseach. Their professionalism and commitment has been a source of inspiration to me in performing my duties.
I want to acknowledge my advisers, past and present, and especially my long-serving and loyal Programme Manager, Gerry Hickey, who has been with me since I was Minister for Finance.
I also thank all those people who worked with me over the years in the Departments of Labour and the Department of Finance. I want to thank the Oireachtas Press Gallery who report on proceedings here.
Ceann Comhairle, I wish to express my gratitude to you for many years of friendship. In your elevated position, I want to commend you on the wise use of your parliamentary skills honed over years of experience, your impeccable judgement, and most of all your decency and fairness.
I will always hold a deep and lasting affection for this House. My respect is rooted in the fact that generations of our people had to fight and struggle to establish a truly representative native parliament. That sense of respect is further enhanced by the people who serve this House.
The staff of Leinster House have always treated me with great courtesy and are always ready to give assistance. I especially want to acknowledge all of the ushers who are fountains of knowledge on the history of the Oireachtas and who are unfailingly polite in conducting their duties.
If I may turn now to another place which has my deepest affection, Northern Ireland. Peace has been the overriding priority of my political life. I have given that cause my all. I want to salute today the leaders of all the political parties in Northern Ireland who have travelled the extra mile for peace. Our journey is not done, but our path has been set, and we have seen in our times how much we can accomplish when men and women of goodwill dare to take the risks required in the quest for peace.
Many people from all walks of Irish life and beyond our shores have played an honourable role in fostering reconciliation. It is hard to single out individuals. So many people played consequential roles but today I do want to make special reference to the First Minster of the other fine democratic assembly on this island.
Like me, Dr Paisley will soon leave office. He has played a significant role in the history of this island. Today, I acknowledge his courage and kindness to me. I wish him and his wife Eileen well in retirement. This island has come a long way and I thank God for that.
May I say a word of thanks to all my colleagues in the European Council. Ireland’s presidency of the EU was a special and most enjoyable period in my career. Our staff in our embassies and our diplomats in Europe and the wider world, represent this country with flair and distinction.
If I could now turn to my colleagues in this House. To Deputy Cyprian Brady, my great friend, I look forward to working with him into the future for the betterment of our local organisation and the communities we serve. I also look forward to my ongoing work for the people of Dublin Central alongside Deputies Joe Costello and Tony Gregory.
To all those on the Fianna Fáil benches, they know innately how honoured I am to have led them for so many years. Fianna Fáil members bring to this House a proud republican tradition which draws on history but is always focused on building a better future. It is a generous republicanism - outward looking and modern - embracing our national identity but also our wider European identity.
This is the republicanism which inspired me as a young man to join Fianna Fáil and it is the same republicanism which motivates our party today. I look forward to Fianna Fáil going from strength to strength in the years ahead. I have no doubt my successor will do our country and this party proud. Brian Cowen has been a good friend, he will be a great Taoiseach.
The Progressive Democrats have been an integral part of the three governments I have led. Mary Harney has served with me in the Oireachtas since 1977. She has my enduring respect and my gratitude for sharing my commitment to a fairer, stronger Ireland. I also want to extend my good wishes today to former Deputy Michael McDowell, who worked closely with me as Attorney-General and as Minister for Justice and as Tánaiste.
I believe in years to come I will look back with pride on my decision to invite the Green Party into government. Ministers Gormley, Ryan and Sargent have proven themselves to be politicians of conviction and talent.
It is my hope that the current government will run its full term and deliver on an innovative and meaningful Programme for Government.
I also wish to acknowledge in this House the steadfast support from Independent Deputies who have supported me in Government.
I have known Deputy Kenny since I entered Dail Eireann. Indeed, he is the only politician in this House here longer than me. I wish him well in his continued service to his constituency and to our country. The nature of our respective roles in a parliamentary democracy means that from time-to-time we have crossed swords. I would like to think this has never been personal. But while we have not always agreed politically, I have never doubted his sincerity or his patriotism. I wish him, his predecessors - former Deputy John Bruton and Deputy Michael Noonan - and all our Fine Gael colleagues well.
I have long admired Deputy Eamon Gilmore. He is an incisive parliamentarian with a strong grasp of public policy. I am pleased to say I have many friends in the Labour Party. I served in a very good government with two of Deputy Gilmore’s predecessors, Dick Spring and Deputy Ruairi Quinn. Another predecessor, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, I hold in very high regard. I thank the Labour Party for their good wishes and for their collegiality over the years. May I also acknowledge Deputy O’Caolain and the other Sinn Fein members of this House who have always engaged constructively with me.
Can I say that all Deputies in this House irrespective of party loyalties have my undiminished admiration. I will always be grateful for the strong values and enduring friendships this House has given me. These have shaped the fabric of my politics and indeed my life.
I entered politics because I believed it to be a noble profession. Over three decades on, I hold firmly to that view. I have seen at first-hand the long hours, the commitment and the dedication of TDs from all parties, to serving the people.
I am proud that I have earned, among a hard working profession, a reputation for being a very hard-worker. I know too that during my time as Taoiseach, while I did not get everything right, I always did my best and worked to the best of my ability for the people. I have stood successfully in twelve elections, locally and nationally. Public service is a calling and it has been my life’s work.
As I finish my time in this House as Taoiseach, I want to thank each and every one of you sincerely. Ba mhaith liom buiochas a ghabháil libh ar fad as ucht bhur cairdeas agus comhoibriú thar na mblianta.