Speech by Jack Chambers, Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.

A chairde,

Is mór an pléisiúr dom labhairt libh ar an ócáid speisialta seo agus ár bpáirtí, an Páirtí Poblachtach, ag ceiliúradh céad bliain ar an bhfód.

Inniu, tagaimid le chéile arís agus ré éiginnteachta domhanda ag bagairt orainn chun a gcrógacht sin a cheiliúradh, agus chun féachaint amach romhainn ar an gcéad bliain eile go dearfach, le muinín agus le mórtas cine inár gcroíthe.

One hundred years ago today, Éamon de Valera, Seán Lemass, Constance Markievicz and others gathered at the La Scala Theatre in Dublin to found Fianna Fáil.

This seminal moment, which would come to shape the course of our nation’s history, was grounded in both optimism and pragmatism —

optimism about what Ireland could become, and pragmatism about how to achieve it.

From its earliest days, Fianna Fáil was a party with a clear and enduring mission: to deliver a better future for the Irish people.

While always respectful of our past and conscious of the sacrifices made to secure our independence, we have never allowed ourselves to be defined by history alone.

Instead, our defining characteristic has been a relentless focus on the future we can build—together.

Our founding generation was driven by action.

They set about building the institutions of the State, strengthening democratic life, and ensuring that independence would be meaningful in the daily lives of our people.

They refused to allow ideology or dogmatism to stand in the way of progress. They chose practical solutions over abstract arguments—and in doing so, they transformed Ireland.

Under the leadership of Seán Lemass, Fianna Fáil took some of the boldest and most consequential decisions in the history of the State. Lemass recognised that Ireland could not afford to remain inward-looking or economically isolated.

He opened our economy to the world, encouraged enterprise, and laid the foundations for sustained economic growth.

Successive Fianna Fáil governments built on that vision.

They fostered foreign direct investment, spearheaded Ireland’s entry into the EEC; supported the development of world-leading sectors such as technology and pharmaceuticals; and created the conditions for innovation and enterprise to thrive.

The establishment of the International Financial Services Centre positioned Ireland as a global hub for financial services, further strengthening our international reputation and economic resilience.

Fianna Fáil governments also invested heavily in the physical and social infrastructure that underpins opportunity.

From the development of our motorway network, to the expansion of our airports;

from schools and hospitals to cultural and sporting facilities;

we built the backbone of a modern, connected Ireland—an Ireland confident in its place in the world.

Now, one hundred years on from our foundation, Fianna Fáil in 2026 remains true to those founding principles.

We are still defined not by what we have done, but by what more we seek to achieve.

At the last general election, the Irish people entrusted us with responsibility for their economic future, making Fianna Fáil the largest party in Dáil Éireann.

That trust was not given lightly. Voters weighed competing visions and looked beyond slogans and spending promises. They recognised that our economic plan was not only ambitious, but credible—and that credibility matters.

Because managing the economy is about more than allocating resources. It is about creating them. It is about building a competitive, productive economy that generates jobs, drives innovation, and provides sustainable public finances.

And it is about making choices that endure.

Fianna Fáil ministers understand that their role is not simply to look for more expenditure, but to deliver—to reform, to build, and to act in the national interest.

In that sense, we are carrying forward the proud tradition of Lemass: recognising change, adapting to it, and ensuring that Ireland is prepared for what comes next.

Today, as it was when those brave men and women sat down in the La Scala Theatre, and again in Lemass’s time, there is profound global economic instability and uncertainty.

Once again Ireland is at an inflection point.

Technological transformation, geopolitical uncertainty, and shifting patterns of trade are reshaping how countries compete and grow.

Once again, Ireland must respond—just as Lemass did, we must build the foundations for economic growth.

Our Taoiseach has placed simplification and competitiveness at the heart of Ireland’s EU Presidency, recognising that European policy must support growth, innovation, and enterprise.

This approach will create opportunities not only for multinational investment, but also for our thriving domestic businesses—helping them to scale, to export, to create opportunity and drive prosperity.

On the reform of infrastructure delivery I am leading, the work of the Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce continues at pace, with the vast majority of key actions already underway and a 98% completion rate achieved to date.

The Critical Infrastructure Bill, which this week completed Report Stage in the Dáil, will provide Government with the tools needed to prioritise projects of national importance and deliver them more efficiently.

Across the system, regulators, consenting bodies, and delivery agencies are reforming their structures and processes—removing duplication, streamlining decision-making, and, quite simply, getting things done.

These reforms are not just administrative; they are essential to ensuring that public investment translates into real outcomes for communities.

And they are already being supported by strong economic performance.

Ireland has now experienced 16 consecutive quarters of full employment—a remarkable achievement that reflects the strength and resilience of our economy.

Over the next 18 months, more than 80,000 additional jobs are expected to be created.

We are also on course for a budget surplus of over €9 billion by the end of this year. Meanwhile, the Future Ireland Fund and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund will collectively hold more than €23 billion—resources that will enable us to plan ahead and respond to future challenges with confidence.

This strong economic position gives us the capacity—and the responsibility—to act.

It allows us to invest in the priorities that matter most to people’s everyday lives. We are delivering unprecedented levels of investment in disability services, ensuring that individuals and families receive the support and dignity they deserve.

This year, Fianna Fáil introduced the most significant child poverty package in the history of the State—an important step toward ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive.

Through the €275 billion National Development Plan, we are addressing long-standing infrastructure gaps across health, education, housing, transport, and beyond. This is about building not just for today, but building for tomorrow an for the generations to come.

But Fianna Fáil’s greatest strength has always been its connection to community.

We are present in every parish, every town, and every city. We understand that the most important conversations do not always happen in council chambers or in this hall—but around kitchen tables, in workplaces, and in local communities.

And we know what people are talking about.

They are talking about the cost of living—about grocery bills that seem higher every week, about childcare, and about the pressure on household budgets. There is a real sense of uncertainty, and people are asking how long it will last.

Budget 2027 must work to help to ease the burden on workers and families with those concerns.

It must focus on making real progress to reward work and to help working people. It must provide a fair and effective personal tax package. It must tackle the big costs that families face, particularly childcare. And it must provide meaningful support to people living with disabilities.

At the same time, we will continue to invest in high-quality public services and ensure that the most vulnerable in our society are protected.

This is about balance. It is about recognising both the strengths of our economy and the pressures facing our people. It is about making responsible choices that deliver real relief without undermining our long-term stability.

As we look to the future, we do so with confidence—but also with humility.

The challenges ahead are significant. But so too are the opportunities.

For 100 years, Fianna Fáil has risen to the moment. We have adapted, we have delivered, and we have led. And today, we recommit ourselves to that mission.

We will continue to build a stronger economy, a fairer society, and a more united country.

We will continue to build the foundations of our future prosperity responsibly, with maturity, despite the calls of the quick fix populists who would have us squander our economic future.

We will deliver a fair, sustainable, proactive, and positive Budget.

And above all, we will continue to serve the people of Ireland with determination, responsibility, and purpose—for the next 100 years and beyond.

Go raibh mile maith agaibh go léir.