Fine Gael

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about the political party founded in 1933. For the organisation founded in 1922, see
Fine Ghaedheal
.

Fine Gael
LeaderSimon Harris
Deputy leaderHeather Humphreys
ChairmanAlan Farrell[1]
Seanad leaderRegina Doherty
Founders
Founded8 September 1933; 90 years ago (1933-09-08)
Merger of
Headquarters51 Mount Street Upper, Dublin, Ireland
Youth wingYoung Fine Gael
LGBT wingFine Gael LGBT[2]
Membership (2020)Decrease 25,000[3][needs update]
Ideology
Dark blue (official)
  •   Blue (customary)
    • Dáil Éireann[14]
    34 / 160
    Seanad Éireann[15]
    16 / 60
    European Parliament[16][a]
    5 / 13
    Local government[17]
    254 / 949
    Website
    www.finegael.ie Edit this at Wikidata

    Fine Gael (/ˌfiːnə ˈɡeɪl, ˌfɪn-/ FEEN-nə GAYL, FIN-,[18][19] Irish: [ˌfʲɪnʲə ˈɡeːl̪ˠ]; English: "Family (or Tribe) of the Irish") is a liberal-conservative[20][21][22] and Christian-democratic[20][23][24] political party in Ireland. Fine Gael is currently the third-largest party in the Republic of Ireland in terms of members of Dáil Éireann[25][26] and largest in terms of Irish members of the European Parliament.[27] The party had a membership of 25,000 in 2021.[28] Simon Harris succeeded Leo Varadkar as party leader on 24 March 2024.

    Fine Gael was founded on 8 September 1933[29][30] following the merger of its parent party Cumann na nGaedheal, the National Centre Party and the Blueshirts. Its origins lie in the struggle for Irish independence and the pro-Treaty side in the Irish Civil War, with the party claiming the legacy of Michael Collins.[31] In its early years, the party was commonly known as Fine Gael – The United Ireland Party, abbreviated UIP,[32][33][34] and its official title in its constitution remains Fine Gael (United Ireland).[35]

    Fine Gael is generally considered to be more of a proponent of

    physical force Irish republicanism. The party's autonomous youth wing, Young Fine Gael
    (YFG), was formed in 1977.

    Having governed in coalition with the Labour Party between 2011 and 2016, and in a minority government along with Independent TDs from 2016 to 2020, Fine Gael currently forms part of a historic coalition government with its traditional rival, Fianna Fáil, and the Green Party, with Simon Harris serving as Taoiseach since April 2024.

    History

    Main article: History of Fine Gael

    Foundation

    W. T. Cosgrave
    Eoin O'Duffy
    Frank MacDermot
    James Dillon
    Cosgrave, O'Duffy, MacDermot, and Dillon brought three political groups together to form Fine Gael in 1933
    Previous logos of Fine Gael
    c. 1970s
    c. 1980s
    c. 1990s

    Fine Gael was created in 1933 following the merger of three political organisations;

    Cumann na nGaedhael (CnaG) led by W. T. Cosgrave, the National Centre Party led by Frank MacDermot and James Dillon, and the National Guard (better known as the Blueshirts), led by Eoin O'Duffy. Cumann na nGaedhael, born out of the pro-Anglo-Irish Treaty side in the Irish Civil War, had been the party of government from the creation of the Irish Free State in 1922 until the 1932 general election, which it lost to the newly emergent Fianna Fáil. The National Centre Party was a new party that had done well at the 1932 election, and represented the interests of farmers. The National Guard were not a political party, but a militant group made up of former pro-Treaty Irish Army soldiers, and was previously known as the Army Comrades Association. Following the disruption of Cumann na nGaedhael meetings by members of the Irish Republican Army, the ACA had begun providing security at their events.[39] This led to the leadership of the ACA being taken over by a number of CnaG TDs, including Thomas F. O'Higgins.[39] In early 1933, Eoin O'Duffy took over the ACA, renamed them the National Guard, and began instilling the organisation with elements of European fascism.[40] However, in August 1933 the Fianna Fáil government banned the National Guard, fearing a planned parade in Dublin might be an attempt to emulate the March on Rome, which saw Benito Mussolini rise to power in Italy.[39]

    In September 1933, the three groups combined forces and merged to form Fine Gael. The National Guard (referred to informally by this point as "the Blueshirts") were to serve as the youth wing of the new party, "The League of Youth". CnaG members dominated the new party. However, to avoid the perception that Fine Gael was simply Cumann na nGaedhael under a new name, O'Duffy was made leader of the new party. Following poor results at the 1934 local elections and concerns over his increasingly rabid rhetoric, O'Duffy resigned from the leadership after the party attempted to control what he said in public. He was replaced by W. T. Cosgrave, with James Dillon becoming deputy leader. O'Duffy attempted to regain control of the Blueshirts, but was rebuffed by the majority of them, who chose to stay with Fine Gael. Under the stewardship of Cosgrave and Dillon, the party returned to the more traditional conservatism espoused by Cumann na nGaedhael, with the moribund League of Youth disbanded by 1936.[39][41]

    Finding success with coalitions with Labour

    Garret FitzGerald is credited as having had a liberalising effect on the party in the 1980s

    Fine Gael remained out of government and at a low ebb for a prolonged period until the aftermath of the

    social democratic direction with a document entitled "Towards a Just Society". The document was adopted as the basis for the party's manifesto for the 1965 general election; however, when the party failed to make headway at the polls the momentum behind the Just Society document wilted and faded.[42][43][44]

    It was not until leader

    contraceptives to Ireland, although an attempt by the Fine Gael/Labour coalition to legalise contraceptives in 1974 stumbled after six members of Fine Gael, most prominently Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave, voted against the government's own bill.[46]

    The arrangement between Fine Gael and Labour proved pleasing to both parties and their election pacts remained throughout the rest of the 1970s and into the 1980s, seeing the pair enter government a number of times together.[45] In 1985, Fine Gael/Labour voted to liberalise access to contraceptives.[47] That same year FitzGerald signed the Anglo-Irish Agreement with Margaret Thatcher, paving the way to devolved government in Northern Ireland.[47] In 1986 the party campaigned for a Yes in that year's referendum on legalising divorce, which was defeated, with the No side obtaining 63.5% of the vote.[47]

    Decline and rebuilding

    The 1980s had proven fruitful electorally for Fine Gael, but the 1990s and early 2000s saw this momentum decline quickly. One of the first signs of this was the party's poor result in the 1990 presidential election, in which their candidate Austin Currie obtained just 17% of the first preference vote.

    Fine Gael formed a government between 1994 and 1997 with the Labour Party and the Democratic Left. This government legalised divorce after a successful referendum in 1995. The party's share of TDs fell from 54 in 1997[48] to only 31[49] in the 2002 general election, its second-worst result ever at that point. It was at this point Enda Kenny took over leadership of the party and began the process of rebuilding it. At the 2007 general election Kenny was able to bring Fine Gael back to its 1997 levels with 51 TDs.[50]

    Recovery

    The collapse of the

    Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill.[53] These members subsequently formed a political party called Renua.[53]

    Since 2015

    Leo Varadkar, Leader of Fine Gael from 2017 to 2024

    In 2015, the Fine Gael/Labour government held

    openly LGBT heads of government in the world.[58] In 2018 the Fine Gael government held a referendum on the Eighth Amendment, the provision in the Irish constitution which forbid abortion. The party campaigned to repeal the amendment and were successful.[59]

    After the 2020 general election, for the first time in history, Fine Gael entered into a coalition government with its traditional rival Fianna Fáil, as well as the Green Party, with Leo Varadkar serving as Tánaiste for the first half of the government's five-year term, then becoming Taoiseach in December 2022.[60]

    Ideology and policies

    Part of a series on
    Christian democracy
    Organizations
    Ideas
    Documents
    People
    Related topics
    Christian cross Christianity portal

    As a political party of the

    conservative liberal,[64] conservative,[65][66] and pro-European,[67] with an ideological base combining elements of cultural conservatism and economic liberalism.[68]

    Although Ireland's political spectrum was traditionally divided along

    left–right spectrum, Fine Gael is described generally as a centre-right party, with a focus on "fiscal rectitude".[69] As the descendant of the pro-Treaty factions in the Irish Civil War, Fine Gael takes inspiration from Michael Collins and claims his legacy. He remains a symbol for the party, and the anniversary of his death is commemorated each year in August.[70][31][71]

    Although Fine Gael was historically a Catholic party, it became the de facto home for Irish Protestants. Its membership base had a higher proportion of Protestants than that of Fianna Fáil or Labour.[72][73] The party promoted a strong Catholic image and depicted itself as a defender of Catholicism against Atheistic Communism, of which it accused the two aforementioned parties of being sympathetic to.[74]

    Through their Cumann na nGaedhael and Pro-Treaty lineage, Fine Gael claim the legacy of Michael Collins, whom they use as a symbol to bolster their law and order image

    Social policies

    Fine Gael adopted the "Just Society" policy statement in the 1960s, based on principles of social justice and equality. It was created by the emerging social democratic wing of the party, led by Declan Costello. The ideas expressed in the policy statement had a significant influence on the party in the years to come.[75]

    While Fine Gael was traditionally socially conservative for most of the twentieth century due to the conservative Christian ethos of Irish society during this time, its members are variously influenced by social liberalism, social democracy and Christian democracy on issues of social policy. Under Garret FitzGerald, the party's more socially liberal, or pluralist, wing gained prominence. Proposals to allow divorce were put to referendum by two Fine Gael–led governments, in 1986 under FitzGerald,[76] and in 1995 under John Bruton, passing very narrowly on this second attempt.[77] Its modern supporters have shown a preference for postmaterialist values.[78][79][80]

    LGBT+ issues

    Members of Fine Gael participating in the 2016 Dublin Pride parade

    Fine Gael supported

    civil unions for same-sex couples from 2003, voting for the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2010. In 2012, the party approved a motion at its Ardfheis to prioritise the consideration of same-sex marriage
    in the upcoming constitutional convention. In 2013, party leader and Taoiseach Enda Kenny declared his support for same-sex marriage. The Fine Gael–led government held a referendum on the subject on 22 May 2015. The referendum passed, with the electorate voting to extend full marriage rights to same-sex couples, with 62.1% in favour and 37.9% opposed.

    In 2015, months before the

    Mairéad McGuinness MEP. Walsh was Fine Gael's first openly lesbian candidate.[82][83]

    Fine Gael has an LGBT+ section, Fine Gael LGBT, and in 2017, Leo Varadkar became the first Taoiseach to march in Dublin Pride.[84]

    Abortion

    In 1983, the

    Pro-Life Amendment Campaign (PLAC) and Catholic bishops, and Fianna Fáil, the largest party in the State at the time, but then in opposition. The amendment resulted in the addition of Article 40.3.3° to the Constitution, giving the unborn child a qualified[86] equal right to life to that of the mother.[87]

    In 1992, in the

    X Case, the Supreme Court held that a risk to the life of woman from suicide was a permissible ground under Article 40.3.3° for abortion. In 2002, Fine Gael campaigned against the Twenty-fifth Amendment to the Constitution, which proposed to remove suicide as a grounds for granting a termination of a pregnancy. The amendment was rejected by Irish voters.[88]

    In 2013 it proposed, and supported, the enactment of the

    anti-abortion groups[91] and Catholic bishops, but supported by a majority of the electorate in opinion polls, with many indicating they wished to see a more liberal law on abortion.[92]

    Enda Kenny's Fine Gael–led minority government took office after the 2016 election with a programme which promised a randomly selected Citizens' Assembly to report on possible changes to the Eighth Amendment, which would be considered by an Oireachtas committee, to whose report the government would respond officially in debates in both houses of the Oireachtas. Fine Gael Oireachtas members were promised a free vote on the issue. Leo Varadkar succeeded Enda Kenny as Taoiseach on 14 June 2017 and promised to hold a referendum on abortion in 2018.[93] Several Fine Gael TDs, notably Health Minister Simon Harris and Kate O'Connell, were prominent supporters of the pro-choice side before and during the referendum. While the party was divided, the majority of Fine Gael TDs and Senators, as well as most members, were in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment. A referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment was held on 25 May 2018 and was approved by 66.4% of voters.

    Drug policies

    The party has traditionally held a strong stance against the decriminalisation of drugs. In 2007, Fine Gael's leader at the time Enda Kenny called for drug and alcohol testing to be performed in schools, saying cocaine usage at schools was "rampant" in some areas.[94]

    At the party's 2014 Ard Fheis, a proposed motion to support the legalisation of cannabis was voted down by the membership.[95]

    In 2016, the Fine Gael health minister James Reilly said that they would not be changing their policy on the legalisation of cannabis, due to "serious concerns about the health impacts" of cannabis.[96]

    Economic policies

    Fine Gael has, since its inception, portrayed itself as a party of fiscal rectitude and minimal government interference in economics, advocating pro-enterprise policies. In that they followed the line of the previous pro-Treaty government that believed in minimal state intervention, low taxes and social expenditures.

    liberal economic policies. Lucinda Creighton (who has since left the party) and Leo Varadkar in particular have been seen as strong advocates of a neoliberal approach to Ireland's economic woes and unemployment problems.[98] Varadkar in particular has been a strong proponent of small, indigenous business, advocating in 2008 that smaller firms should have benefitted from the government's recapitalisation program.[99] Its former finance spokesman Richard Bruton's proposals were seen as approaching problems from a pro-enterprise point of view. Its fairer budget website in 2011 suggested that its solutions are "tough but fair".[100]
    Other solutions conform generally to conservative governments' policies throughout Europe, focusing on cutting numbers in the public sector, while maintaining investment in infrastructure.

    Fine Gael's proposals have sometimes been criticised mostly by smaller political groupings in Ireland, and by some of the trade unions, who have raised the idea that the party's solutions are more conscious of business interests than the interests of the worker. In 2008 the SIPTU trade union stated its opposition to then-Taoiseach Enda Kenny's assertion, in response to Ireland's economic crisis, that the national wage agreement ought to have been suspended. Kenny's comments had support however and the party attributed its significant rise in polls in 2008 to this.[101]

    Fine Gael's

    Bord Gáis, in combination with use of money in the National Pensions Reserve Fund, was Fine Gael's proposed funding source for its national stimulus package.[103]

    The plan was seen as the longer term contribution to Fine Gael's economic agenda and the basis of its program for government. It was publicised in combination with a more short term policy proposal from Leo Varadkar. This document, termed "Hope for a Lost Generation", promised to bring 30,000 young Irish people off the Live Register in a year by combining a National Internship Program, a Second Chance Education Scheme, an Apprenticeship Guarantee and Community Work Program, as well as instituting a German style Workshare program.[104]

    Constitutional reform policies

    In 2010 Fine Gael's Phil Hogan published the party's proposals for political and constitutional reform. In a policy document entitled New Politics, Hogan suggested creating a country with "a smaller, more dynamic and more responsive political system" by reducing the size of the Dáil by 20, changing the way the Dáil works, and by abolishing the Irish senate, Seanad Éireann.[105]

    The question of whether to abolish the Seanad or not was put to a referendum in 2013, with voters voting 51% to 49% to retain bicameralism in Ireland.[106]

    Health policies

    The Irish health system, being administered centrally by the Health Service Executive, is seen to be poor by comparison to other countries in Europe, ranking outside expected levels at 25th according to the Euro Health Consumer Index 2006.[107]

    Fine Gael has long wanted Ireland to break with the system of private health insurance, public medical cards and what it calls the two tiers of the health system and has launched a campaign to see the system reformed. Speaking in favour of the campaign, Fine Gael then health spokesman James Reilly stated "Over the last 10 years the health service has become a shambles. We regularly have over 350 people on trolleys in A&E, waiting lists that go on for months, outpatient waiting lists that go on for years and cancelled operations across the country..."[108]

    Fine Gael launched its FairCare campaign and website in April 2009, which stated that the health service would be reformed away from a costly ineffective endeavour, into a publicly regulated system where compulsory universal health insurance would replace the existing provisions.[109]

    This strategy was criticised by Fianna Fáil's then-Minister for Children, Barry Andrews. The spokesperson for family law and children, Alan Shatter TD, robustly defended its proposals as the only means of reducing public expenditure, and providing a service in Ireland more akin to the Canadian, German, Dutch and Austrian health systems.

    Fine Gael's current healthcare policy revolves around the implementation of Sláintecare, a cross-party plan for the reform of the Irish health system. Sláintecare is focused on introducing "a universal single-tiered health service, which guarantees access based on need, not income… through Universal Health Insurance".[110]

    Pro-Europeanism and defence policies

    Fine Gael is among the most pro-

    Lisbon Treaty, and advocating participation in European common defence.[112] The party have been supportive of NATO. In 1998, party leader John Bruton called on Ireland to join the NATO-led Partnership for Peace.[113] The party's youth wing, Young Fine Gael, passed a motion in 2016 calling on the government to apply for membership of NATO.[114]

    Under Enda Kenny, the party called on the state to end

    2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Fine Gael called for an increase in defence spending,[116] with Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney proposing an increase of €500 million a year[117] and suggesting Ireland needed a "fundamental rethink" of its security approach.[118]

    Since Brexit, Fine Gael has taken a strong pro-European stance, stating that Ireland's place is "at the heart of Europe".[119] In government, the party has launched the "Global Ireland" plan to develop alliances with other small countries across Europe and the world.[120]

    European affiliations

    Fine Gael is a founding member of the

    Committee of the Regions. Young Fine Gael is a member of the Youth of the European People's Party
    (YEPP).

    It is inferred from the party's relationship with its European counterparts via membership of the European People's Party that Fine Gael belongs on the centre-right.[121][122][123] The party conforms generally with European political parties that identify themselves as being Christian democratic.[124]

    Planning and payment tribunals

    The

    Ben Dunne had paid for an IR£395,000 extension to Lowry's County Tipperary home. Lowry, now an independent TD, supported the Fianna Fáil–Green Party government in Dáil Éireann
    until March 2011.

    It was also revealed in December 1996 that Fine Gael had received some £180,000 from

    Ben Dunne in the period 1987 to 1993. This was composed of £100,000 in 1993, £50,000 in 1992 and £30,000 in 1989. In addition, Michael Noonan received £3,000 in 1992 towards his election campaign, Ivan Yates received £5,000, Michael Lowry received £5,000 and Sean Barrett received £1,000 in the earlier 1987 election. John Bruton said he had received £1,000 from Dunne in 1982 towards his election campaign, and Dunne had also given £15,000 to the Labour Party during the 1990 Presidential election campaign.[125]

    Following revelations at the Moriarty Tribunal on 16 February 1999, in relation to Charles Haughey and his relationship with AIB, former Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald confirmed that AIB and Ansbacher wrote off debts of almost £200,000 that he owed in 1993, when he was in financial difficulties because of the collapse of the aircraft leasing company, GPA, in which he was a shareholder. The write-off occurred after Fitzgerald left politics. Fitzgerald also said he believed his then Fine Gael colleague, Peter Sutherland, who was chairman of AIB at the time, was unaware of the situation.[126]

    Leadership

    The leader of the Fine Gael party is Simon Harris. The position of deputy leader has been held since 2024 by Heather Humphreys TD, the Minister for Rural and Community Development and Minister for Social Protection.

    Party leader

    Main article: Leader of Fine Gael

    The following are the terms of office as party leader, and as Taoiseach (bolded) if applicable:

    Leader Portrait Period Constituency Periods in office (Taoiseach unless otherwise noted)
    Eoin O'Duffy
    O'Duffy portrait.jpg
    		 1933–1934 Monaghan[b]
    W. T. Cosgrave
    W. T. Cosgrave, circa 1930 (cropped).jpg
    		 1934–1944 Carlow–Kilkenny President of the Executive Council (for Cumann na nGaedheal)

    1922–1932

    (

    3rd
    ,
    5th Executive Council of the Irish Free State
    )

    Richard Mulcahy
    Gen. Richard Mulcahy cropped.jpg
    		 1944–1959[c] Tipperary John A. Costello as Taoiseach[d]

    7th Government of Ireland
    )

    James Dillon
    James Dillon circa 1930s.jpg
    		 1959–1965 Monaghan
    Liam Cosgrave
    Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave-Patricks Day 1976.jpg
    		 1965–1977 Dún Laoghaire
    14th Government of Ireland
    )
    Garret FitzGerald
    Garret FitzGerald 1975 (cropped).jpg
    		 1977–1987 Dublin South-East
    19th Government of Ireland
    )
    Alan Dukes
    Alan Dukes, December 1996 (cropped).jpg
    		 1987–1990 Kildare South
    John Bruton
    John Bruton, February 2002 (cropped 02).jpg
    		 1990–2001 Meath 1994–
    24th Government of Ireland
    )
    Michael Noonan
    Michael Noonan, Nov 1996 (cropped).jpg
    		 2001–2002 Limerick East
    Enda Kenny
    Enda Kenny EPP 2014 (cropped).jpg
    		 2002–2017 Mayo
    30th Government of Ireland
    )
    Leo Varadkar
    Tallinn Digital Summit. Handshake Leo Varadkar and Jüri Ratas (36679163084) (cropped).jpg
    		 2017–2024 Dublin West 2017–
    33rd Government of Ireland
    )
    Simon Harris
    Simon Harris, April 2024 02 (cropped2).jpg
    		 2024–present Wicklow

    Deputy leader

    Name Period Constituency
    Tom O'Higgins 1972–1977 Dublin County South
    Peter Barry 1977–1987 Cork South-Central
    John Bruton 1987–1990 Meath
    Peter Barry 1991–1993 Cork South-Central
    Nora Owen 1993–2001 Dublin North
    Jim Mitchell 2001–2002 Dublin Central
    Richard Bruton 2002–2010 Dublin North-Central
    James Reilly 2010–2017 Dublin North
    Simon Coveney 2017–2024 Cork South-Central
    Heather Humphreys 2024–present Cavan–Monaghan

    Seanad leader

    Name Period Panel
    Michael J. O'Higgins 1973–1977 Nominated member of Seanad Éireann
    Patrick Cooney 1977–1981 Cultural and Educational Panel
    Gemma Hussey 1981–1982 National University of Ireland
    James Dooge 1982–1987 National University of Ireland
    Maurice Manning 1987–2002 Cultural and Educational Panel
    Brian Hayes 2002–2007 Cultural and Educational Panel
    Michael Finucane 2007 (acting) Labour Panel
    Frances Fitzgerald 2007–2011 Labour Panel
    Maurice Cummins 2011–2016 Labour Panel
    Jerry Buttimer 2016–2020 Labour Panel
    Regina Doherty 2020–present Nominated member of Seanad Éireann

    Electoral results

    Dáil Éireann

    Election Leader 1st pref
    votes     		% Seats ± Government
    1937 W. T. Cosgrave 461,171 34.8 (#2)
    48 / 138
    		 Decrease 11[e] Opposition
    1938 428,633 33.3 (#2)
    45 / 138
    		 Decrease 3 Opposition
    1943 307,490 23.1 (#2)
    32 / 138
    		 Decrease 12 Opposition
    1944 Richard Mulcahy 249,329 20.5 (#2)
    30 / 138
    		 Decrease 2 Opposition
    1948 262,393 19.8 (#2)
    31 / 147
    		 Increase 1 FG–LP–CnP–CnT–NLP
    minority
    1951 349,922 27.2 (#2)
    40 / 147
    		 Increase 9 Opposition
    1954 427,031 32.0 (#2)
    50 / 147
    		 Increase 10 FG–LP–CnT
    1957 326,699 26.6 (#2)
    40 / 147
    		 Decrease 10 Opposition
    1961 James Dillon 374,099 32.0 (#2)
    47 / 144
    		 Increase 7 Opposition
    1965 427,081 34.1 (#2)
    47 / 144
    		 Steady Opposition
    1969 Liam Cosgrave 449,749 34.1 (#2)
    50 / 144
    		 Increase 3 Opposition
    1973 473,781 35.1 (#2)
    54 / 144
    		 Increase 4 FG–LP
    1977 488,767 30.5 (#2)
    43 / 148
    		 Decrease 11 Opposition
    1981 Garret FitzGerald 626,376 36.5 (#2)
    65 / 166
    		 Increase 22 FG–LP minority
    Feb 1982 621,088 37.3 (#2)
    63 / 166
    		 Decrease 2 Opposition
    Nov 1982 662,284 39.2 (#2)
    70 / 166
    		 Increase 7 FG-LP
    1987 481,127 27.1 (#2)
    51 / 166
    		 Decrease 19 Opposition
    1989 Alan Dukes 485,307 29.3 (#2)
    55 / 166
    		 Increase 4 Opposition
    1992 John Bruton 422,106 24.5 (#2)
    45 / 166
    		 Decrease 10 Opposition (1992–1994)
    FG–LP–DL (1994–1997)
    1997 499,936 27.9 (#2)
    54 / 166
    		 Increase 9 Opposition
    2002 Michael Noonan 417,619 22.5 (#2)
    31 / 166
    		 Decrease 23 Opposition
    2007 Enda Kenny 564,428 27.3 (#2)
    51 / 166
    		 Increase 20 Opposition
    2011 801,628 36.1 (#1)
    76 / 166
    		 Increase 25 FG–LP
    2016 544,410 25.5 (#1)
    50 / 158
    		 Decrease 26 FG minority
    2020[127] Leo Varadkar 455,568 20.9 (#3)
    35 / 160
    		 Decrease 15 FF–FG–GP

    Presidential elections

    Election Candidate 1st pref.
    votes     		% +/– Position
    1938 Supported Douglas Hyde as an independent
    1945 Seán Mac Eoin 335,539 30.9% — 2
    1959 Seán Mac Eoin 417,536 43.7% — 2
    1966 Tom O'Higgins 548,144 49.5% Increase 5.8 2
    1973 Tom O'Higgins 587,771 48% Decrease 1.5 2
    1974 Supported Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh with Fianna Fáil per agreement
    1990 Austin Currie 267,902 17% — 3
    1997 Mary Banotti 372,002 29.3% Increase 12.3 2
    2004 Supported Mary McAleese as an independent
    2011 Gay Mitchell 113,321 6.4% — 4
    2018 Supported Michael D Higgins as an independent

    European Parliament

    Election 1st pref
    Votes     		% Seats +/–
    1979 464,451 33.1 (#2)
    4 / 15
    1984 361,034 32.2 (#2)
    6 / 15
    		 Increase 2
    1989 353,094 21.6 (#2)
    4 / 15
    		 Decrease 2
    1994 276,095 24.3 (#2)
    4 / 15
    		 Steady
    1999 342,171 24.6 (#2)
    4 / 15
    		 Steady
    2004 494,412 27.8 (#1)
    5 / 13
    		 Increase 1
    2009 532,889 29.1 (#1)
    4 / 12
    		 Decrease 1
    2014 369,120 22.3 (#2)
    4 / 11
    		 Steady
    2019 496,459 29.6 (#1)
    5 / 13
    		 Increase 1

    Electoral performance since 2009

    In the 2009 local elections held on 5 June 2009, Fine Gael won 556 seats, surpassing Fianna Fáil which won 407 seats, and making Fine Gael the largest party of local government nationally.[128] They gained 88 seats from their 2004 result.

    In the 2009 European Parliament election held on the same day as the local elections, which saw a reduction in the number seats from 13 to 12 for Ireland, the party won four seats, retaining the largest number of seats of an Irish party in the European Parliament. This was a loss of one seat from its 2004 result.[129]

    In the 2011 general election, Fine Gael gained 25 seats bringing them to a total of 76. The party ran candidates in all 43 constituencies and had candidates elected in every constituency except Dublin North-West. Fine Gael won 19 seats in Seanad Éireann following the 2011 election, a gain of four from the previous election in 2007.

    While Fine Gael was responsible for the initial nomination of the uncontested, first President of Ireland, Douglas Hyde, a Fine Gael candidate has never won an election to the office of president. The Fine Gael presidential candidate, Gay Mitchell, finished fourth in the 2011 presidential election, with 6.4% of the vote.[130] In 2004, Fine Gael supported the re-election of President Mary McAleese. Similarly, it supported the re-election of Michael D. Higgins in the 2018 presidential election.

    In the

    Independent members of the Dáil until 2020, when the party emerged as the third party following the general election. After governing for several months in a caretaker capacity, Fine Gael agreed to serve in a historic coalition government along with its traditional rival, Fianna Fáil, and the Green Party, with Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin
    serving as Taoiseach and Leo Varadkar serving as Tánaiste. As per the agreed Programme for Government, on 17 December 2022, Leo Varadkar returned to the role of Taoiseach with Micheál Martin as Tánaiste. [131]

    Front bench

    Main article: Fine Gael Front Bench

    Young Fine Gael

    Main article: Young Fine Gael

    Young Fine Gael (YFG) is the autonomous youth movement of Fine Gael. It was founded in 1976 by the then leader Garret FitzGerald. It caters for young people under 35 with an interest in Fine Gael and politics, in cities, towns and third level colleges throughout Ireland. YFG is led by its national executive consisting of ten members elected on a regional basis, and on a national panel.

    See also

    Notes

    1. ^ Fine Gael had 5 MEPs elected at the 2019 European Parliament election. Deirdre Clune, the fifth candidate elected for South, did not take her seat until the UK left the EU and its MEPs vacated their seats.
    2. ^ O'Duffy did not hold a seat in the Oireachtas while he was party leader.
    3. ^ While Mulcahy was a member of the Seanad in 1944, Tom O'Higgins acted as parliamentary party leader. Between 1948 and 1959, John A. Costello served as parliamentary leader.
    4. ^ While Mulcahy was party leader, Costello was Taoiseach on two occasions.
    5. ^ The total number of Fine Gael TDs is compared to the combined total won by Cumann na nGaedheal and the National Centre Party at the previous general election.

    References

    1. Sunday Business Post
      . Retrieved 17 April 2024.
    2. ^ "Progressive Programme for Government will improve rights and equality for LGBTI+ people". 22 June 2020.
    3. Irish Times
      . Retrieved 4 January 2022. This will bring total membership for [Sinn Féin] to around 15,000. According to their party spokespeople, Fine Gael has 25,000 members, while Fianna Fáil has 20,000.
    4. ^
      ISBN 978-1-136-94986-9. Archived
      from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
    5. ^
      ISBN 978-90-5201-535-4. Archived
      from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
    6. ^ Eva Wall (26 June 2020). "End to century of civil war politics as Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to enter historic coalition with Greens". Archived from the original on 2 October 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
    7. ^ Nordsieck, Wolfram (2020). "Ireland". Parties and Elections in Europe. Archived from the original on 7 January 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
    8. S2CID 240887708
      .
    9. ISBN 9781315453651
      .
    10. ^
      ISBN 978-1-317-50363-7. Archived
      from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
    11. ^
      ISBN 978-1-317-88118-6. Archived
      from the original on 22 December 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
    12. ^
      ISBN 978-1-84779-336-2. Archived
      from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
    13. ^
      ISBN 978-1-317-64273-2. Archived
      from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
    14. ^ "Find a TD – Houses of the Oireachtas".
    15. ^ "Find a Senator – Houses of the Oireachtas".
    16. ^ "Full list of MEPs". European Parliament. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
    17. ^ "2019 Local contents". ElectionsIreland.org.
    18. ^ "Fine Gael". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021.
    19. ^ "Fine Gael". Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English. Longman. Archived from the original on 14 August 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
    20. ^
      ISBN 978-1-136-94986-9. Archived
      from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
    21. ISBN 978-90-5201-535-4. Archived
      from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
    22. ^ "End to century of civil war politics as Fianna Fail and Fine Gael to enter historic coalition with Greens". Extra.ie. 26 June 2020. Archived from the original on 2 October 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
    23. ISBN 978-0-415-18188-4. Archived
      from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
    24. ISBN 978-0-313-39181-1. Archived
      from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
    25. ISSN 0791-5144
      .
    26. ^ "Ireland's two-party system shaken by Sinn Fein surge". Associated Press. 7 February 2020. Archived from the original on 17 February 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
    27. ^ "Live results from the 2019 Local Elections and European Elections". RTÉ News. Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
    28. ^ "Join Fine Gael". Fine Gael. Archived from the original on 15 September 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
    29. ^ "History of Fine Gael". Generalmichaelcollins.com. Archived from the original on 12 November 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
    30. ^ Farrell, Mel (22 June 2020). "The evolution of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael". RTE.ie. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
    31. ^ a b Foley, Frank (5 February 2013). "Controversy and the Cult of Collins". Archived from the original on 5 September 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
    32. ^ "History of Fine Gael". Fine Gael. Archived from the original on 29 October 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
    33. ^ "Fine Gael | History, Policy, & Structure". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
    34. ^ "Q+A: Here's where the parties stand on a united Ireland and holding a border poll". www.thejournal.ie. 6 February 2020. Archived from the original on 4 October 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
    35. ^ "Fine Gael Constitution" (PDF). Fine Gael. 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
    36. ^ "Ireland's politics on the brink of a seismic shift". euobserver.com. 24 February 2011. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
    37. ^ Gael, Fine. "Our Values". Fine Gael. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
    38. ^ "FG Values". David Stanton website. Archived from the original on 4 February 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
    39. ^ a b c d Collins, Stephen (7 November 2020). "Without the Blueshirts, there would have been no Fine Gael". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 4 January 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
    40. ^ Maurice Manning, "The Blueshirts", Dublin, 1970
    41. ^ Fearghal McGarry, Eoin O'Duffy: A Self-Made Hero (Oxford University Press, 2005), pp.261–265
    42. Irish Times
      . Retrieved 7 January 2022.
    43. ^ Clavin, Terry (June 2018). "Costello, (David) Declan". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
    44. ^ Meehan, Ciara (11 June 2014). "Policy changes conceived in Costello's 'Just Society'". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
    45. ^
      Britannica. Archived
      from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
    46. ^ "Access to Contraceptives Denied 1974". RTÉ. RTÉ. Archived from the original on 9 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
    47. ^ a b c McConnell, Daniel (3 July 2021). "Garret FitzGerald's positive impact is one worth recalling". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 9 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
    48. ^ "1997 general election". Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
    49. ^ "2002 general election". Archived from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
    50. ^ "2007 general election". Retrieved 29 January 2021.
    51. ^ a b McDonald, Henry (26 February 2011). "Fianna Fáil trounced as Fine Gael and Labour set to form coalition". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 11 January 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
    52. ^ "Irish parties agree to form coalition government". CNN. 5 March 2011. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
    53. ^
      Irish Times. Archived
      from the original on 16 November 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
    54. ^ "Fine Gael launches campaign for Yes vote in Marriage Equality Referendum". Fine Gael. 27 April 2015. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
    55. ^ McDonald, Henry (3 May 2016). "Ireland to have minority Fine Gael government after deal agreed". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 23 March 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
    56. ^ McDonald, Henry (17 May 2017). "Enda Kenny announces resignation as Fine Gael leader". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
    57. Irish Times. Archived
      from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
    58. Irish Times. Archived
      from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
    59. Irish Times. Archived
      from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
    60. ^ Carroll, Rory (15 June 2020). "Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Greens agree deal to form Irish coalition". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
    61. ISBN 978-1-137-59524-9. Archived
      from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
    62. ISBN 978-0-415-18188-4. Archived
      from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
    63. ISBN 978-0-313-39181-1. Archived
      from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
    64. ^ Tabeling, Petra (20 May 2002). "Wahl auf der grünen Insel". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
    65. ISBN 978-0-7190-1797-1. Archived
      from the original on 21 July 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
    66. ISBN 978-1-135-77954-2. Archived
      from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
    67. ISBN 978-1-317-96560-2
      .
    68. ISBN 978-1-108-48379-7. Archived
      from the original on 13 July 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
    69. ^ O'Connell, Hugh (17 February 2016). "The TrailFix: What on earth has gone wrong with Fine Gael?". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
    70. ^ "Michael Collins' view of life in Achill Gaeltacht". The Hogan Stand. 21 September 2005. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
    71. ^ Allen, Kieran. "Michael Collins: patriot hero or counterrevolutionary?". Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
    72. ISBN 978-0-7735-0412-7
      .
    73. ISBN 978-0-313-32362-1
      .
    74. ISBN 978-0-14-192688-9
      .
    75. ^ "Just Society". AskAboutIreland.ie. Archived from the original on 9 August 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
    76. ^ "Referendum 26 June 1986 Dissolution of Marriage". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 23 February 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
    77. ^ "Referendum 24 November 1995 Dissolution of Marriage". ElectionsIreland.org. 24 November 1995. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
    78. ISBN 978-0-7190-4037-5
      .
    79. ISBN 978-1-000-30717-7
      .
    80. ISBN 978-0-7171-1947-9
      .
    81. ^ "Leo Varadkar". Fine Gael. Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
    82. ^ Zaw, Yolanda (17 May 2018). "Maria Walsh on being the 'gay' Rose: 'Some people can never know that part of me'". evoke.ie. Archived from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
    83. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived
      from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
    84. ^ "It's not enough to be the example, Leo, you have to lead by example too". Irish Independent. 26 June 2017. Archived from the original on 27 September 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
    85. ^ Muldowney, Mary (March–April 2013). ""BREAKING THE SILENCE ON ABORTION: the 1983 referendum campaign"". History Ireland.
    86. ^ Through the words "as far as practicable". Attorney General v X, [1992] IESC 1; [1992] 1 IR 1. Also reflected in A, B, C v Ireland.
    87. ^ "Eighth Amendment of the Constitution Act, 1983". Irish Statute Book. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
    88. ^ "2002 referendum". Elections Ireland.org. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
    89. ^ "Creighton attacks media over 'progressive consensus' on abortion". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
    90. ^ "Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013". Irish Statute Book. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
    91. ^ "Irish abortion bill becomes law". BBC News. 30 July 2013. Archived from the original on 5 November 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
    92. ^ "Abortion law doesn't go far enough – poll". Herald/ie. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
    93. ^ McDonald, Karl (15 June 2017). "Ireland's new leader announces abortion referendum despite Pope visit". i. Archived from the original on 8 July 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
    94. ^ "FG leader plans drugs and alcohol testing in schools". Irish Times. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
    95. ^ O'Connell, Hugh (March 2014). "Fine Gael says 'yes' to same-sex marriage but 'no' to legalising cannabis". The Journal. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
    96. ^ Ryan, Órla (13 February 2016). "Where do Ireland's political parties stand on decriminalising cannabis?". The Journal. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
    97. ISBN 0719017971
      .
    98. ^ "Lucinda CREIGHTON TD – Economy Vision". Lucindacreighton.ie. Archived from the original on 28 July 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
    99. ^ "Leo Varadkar – Small Business Fund must be included in recapitalisation plan". Leovaradkar.ie. 16 December 2008. Archived from the original on 29 June 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
    100. ^ "fairerbudget.com". fairerbudget.com. Archived from the original on 19 September 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2010.
    101. ^ "Union criticises FG on wage agreements position while FG gains 35% in polls". RTÉ.ie. 23 November 2008. Archived from the original on 28 June 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
    102. ^ "Fine Gael launches stimulus plan". RTÉ.ie. 26 April 2010. Archived from the original on 7 February 2015.
    103. RTE.ie. 2 April 2010. Archived
      from the original on 23 February 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
    104. ^ "Hope for a Lost Generation" (PDF). Young Fine Gael. 2009. Retrieved 8 November 2018 – via SlideShare.[permanent dead link]
    105. ^ "Irish Times on Kenny Conference Speech, 26 April 2010". M.irishtimes.com. 20 March 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
    106. ^ "Seanad Results". The Irish Times. 5 October 2013. Archived from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
    107. ^ "Euro Health Consumer Index 2006" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 February 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
    108. ^ "Dr. James O' Rehilly comments on health service". Irishtimes.com. 27 April 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
    109. ^ "Fine Gael launch Fair Care Website and campaign". Faircare.ie. Archived from the original on 16 April 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
    110. ^ "Department of the Taoiseach". www.gov.ie. Archived from the original on 17 September 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
    111. ^ a b "Enda Kenny calls for Unified EU Approach to Immigration". National Forum on Europe. 26 October 2006. Archived from the original on 18 November 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
    112. ^ "Should we back a pledge to defend others if they come under attack?". National Forum on Europe. 3 April 2003. Archived from the original on 19 November 2007.. Retrieved on 31 October 2007
    113. ^ "FG urges Ireland to join group led by NATO". The Irish Times. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
    114. ^ "Securing Ireland in an Uncertain World" (PDF). Young Fine Gael. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 October 2020.
    115. ^ Brennock, Mark. "FG calls for State to abandon neutrality". The Irish Times. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
    116. ^ Staines, Michael. "Fine Gael calls for increased military spending 'entirely disingenuous'". Newstalk. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
    117. ^ "Simon Coveney: Ireland will not be joining Nato 'any time soon'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
    118. ^ "Ireland needs to have 'fundamental rethink' over security, says Coveney". TheJournal.ie. Press Association. 9 March 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
    119. Irish Times. 25 January 2018. Archived
      from the original on 20 September 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
    120. ^ "Global Ireland" (PDF). Merrion Street. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 February 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
    121. ^ Fine Gael – MSN Encarta. Archived from the original on 2 November 2009.
    122. ISBN 978-0-8264-5814-8
      .
    123. ^ Valencia (7 January 2007). "What Fine Gael needs to do is find its bottom – National News, Frontpage". Independent.ie. Archived from the original on 6 November 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
    124. ^ "Fine Gael's European Strategy – EAST WEST EUROPE | Ireland and the Wider Europe, 2008". Archived from the original on 8 July 2008. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
    125. ^ "Irish Times article". The Irish Times.
    126. ^ "RTÉ News: AIB and Ansbacher wrote off Fitzgerald's £200,000 debt". RTÉ.ie. 17 February 1999. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
    127. ^ "33rd DÁIL GENERAL ELECTION 8 February 2020 Election Results (Party totals begin on page 68)" (PDF). Houses of the Oireachtas. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 May 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
    128. ^ "2009 Local Elections". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 9 September 2009. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
    129. ^ "Elections 2009 – European Elections: National Summary". RTÉ News. Archived from the original on 10 August 2009. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
    130. ^ "2011 Presidential Election". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
    131. ^ "As it happened: Leo Varadkar becomes Taoiseach and announces new Cabinet". The Irish Times.

    Bibliography

    External links

    Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fine Gael.
    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fine_Gael&oldid=1219439553"