Taoiseach Micheál Martin has claimed that the desire for “national superiority or uniqueness” is the “exact opposite” of the vision of the 1916 Proclamation.
Speaking at a Fianna Fáil and Europe Seminar in Cork over the weekend, the Taoiseach said that nationalists in other countries wanted to restore a sense of “uniqueness.”
“In many other countries Nationalists defined themselves against other groups or wanted to restore some sense of national superiority or uniqueness,” he said.
“That’s the exact opposite of the republicanism of Theobald Wolfe Tone, the nationalism of Daniel O’Connell and the vision of the Proclamation of 1916.”
Martin went on to praise the internationalist approach of former leaders, saying their values were highly regarded globally.
“Eamon de Valera’s values-based internationalism was recognised and valued throughout the world,” Martin said.
“During the rising tension and conflict of the 1930s, he was a consistent and respected voice pleading with others to respect shared rules and step back from conflict.”
The Taoiseach also highlighted a number of reforms implemented under former leader Jack Lynch, noting changes to the country’s social programmes and the status of the Catholic Church.
“If you look at the ongoing series of reforms implemented in the period 1966-73 you find them in nearly every area of public life,” he said.
“You find a massive expansion in education, new social programmes, liberalisation of censorship, the removal of the Catholic Church’s special constitutional status and the Commission on the Status of Women which heralded the dramatic equality measures of subsequent decades.”
He added that Lynch was able to see past a desire for the country to stand on its own in the world.
“Lynch had the vision to see beyond a narrow ‘little Irelander, ourselves alone’ ideology,” continued Martin.
“He knew the quest for national self-determination in Ireland has always been about taking our place among the nations, not standing separate from them.”
Moving on to the topic of Ireland’s membership of the European Union, Martin dismissed historic and ongoing claims from Sinn Féin regarding the country’s military neutrality.
“When the people chose to side with Lynch and Fianna Fáil that party announced that it marked the formal end of neutrality,” he stated.
“53 years after they said neutrality was over, they are claiming that it has actually been alive all the time… but is about ended.”
He subsequently commended former Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s decision to align Fianna Fáil with the ALDE Party in Europe.
“For Fianna Fáil, his decision that we should join the European mainstream by becoming a member of the ALDE Party has been vital for our Party,” he said.
“It has given us access to critical discussions, greater impact in the Parliament and a network of real solidarity.”
Addressing European solidarity, Martin took aim at political opponents in the European Parliament over their voting records regarding the war in Ukraine.
“This stands in stark contrast to the far-left Irish MEPs who continue to vote against key support for Ukraine and the defence of Europe,” Martin said.
The Taoiseach has previously faced criticism for his remarks regarding Irish identity and sovereignty.
Speaking to Gript on the 4th of June 2025, Martin defended his claim that the Irish “never were a homogenous group,” after a clip of his 2021 remarks re-emerged online.
Prior to this, Martin told EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier in the Dáil on the 11th of May 2017 that Ireland wanted nothing to do with a “backward-looking idea of sovereignty”, drawing controversy.