The Government's increased spending on education, health and social welfare is honouring the Easter Proclamation's promise to "cherish all the children of the nation equally", the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has said.
Speaking before 1,300 Fianna Fáil supporters at the party's Cairde Fáil dinner in the Citywest Hotel, Mr Ahern was roundly applauded as he celebrated his 10th anniversary as leader.
"Growth and employment are bringing not just jobs but the opportunity to be included instead of being permanently left on the margins," he told the gathering.
"Investment in our schools, in community facilities and in the caring and qualified professionals who work in education and the social services is for the first time making good on the promise that in this Republic we will cherish all the children of the nation equally."
Looking back over the past decade, Mr Ahern said he was "enormously proud of the progress that Ireland has made. We have built and sustained the greatest period of economic growth that this country has ever seen."
Accusing Fine Gael of attacking the public service, he said: "Other political parties are carving out a niche attacking the public service. Fine Gael in its document Who Cares? has attacked and demeaned the value of the work of public servants . . .
"We know, as do the people in those communities, that when you are excluded, when you are disabled, when you are sick, when you are very young or very old, then you depend on public services the most."
Criticising the Labour Party, Mr Ahern said: "Seán Lemass often said that Fianna Fáil is the real Labour Party. After the reverse takeover by the Workers' Party, many in the Labour Party must be asking themselves if he was not right."
On Northern Ireland, the Taoiseach remained cautious about a deal between Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party. "No deal is perfect, but what is in prospect is truly historic. It is also fair and reasonable. I wish I could say this evening that agreement is assured. It is not. But I know that I have your support in urging everyone not to walk away from this opportunity - an opportunity that will open the door to full peace and comprehensive partnership in Northern Ireland," he said.
