Jim O'Callaghan

So, like...

I won't give you a figure or date in terms of when it'll be done, but it'll certainly, my assessment will be done within the next 12 months and I want it to happen this year.

Well, I don't know about that.

A hundred years ago, it was just embryonic.

Nobody thought it was going to get off the ground.

It has been the most successful political party in Ireland.

It has been one of the most successful political party in the world, if you look at it over the past hundred years.

It has been centrally involved in leading this country to the position it occupies today.

Like, I know we don't hear this, and people are not suggesting, people are required to say this, but if you look at post-colonial, independent countries around the world,

There is no more successful example of one than Ireland.

No more successful example.

And that's why people look at us and say, God, Irish independence has worked out extremely well.

Like back in 1916, 1922, people thought the idea of Ireland going on their own was a crazy idea.

that we wouldn't survive.

You saw the discussion in Scotland when they were discussing Scottish independence.

It has been a real success.

And that's notwithstanding the very significant challenges and indeed failings of government that have happened during the 100 years.

But if we look at what Fianna Fáil did in terms of the constitution,

In 1937, while the rest of Europe was gone crazy on fascism, Eamon de Valera brought in a constitution that has guaranteed fundamental rights and that has put in place a constitutional architecture that's still alive today.

He kept us out of the Second World War, a very sensible decision based on the self-interest of the people of Ireland.