Fine Gael

Fine Gael
Leader Enda Kenny
Deputy leader James Reilly
Founded 8 September 1933 (1933-09-08)
Merger of Cumann na nGaedhael,
National Centre Party,
National Guard
Headquarters 51 Upper Mount Street,
Dublin 2, Ireland
Youth wing Young Fine Gael
Ideology Christian Democracy[1]
Political position Centrist[1]
International affiliation Centrist Democrat International
European affiliation European People's Party
European Parliament Group European People's Party
Official colours Blue
Dáil Éireann
51 / 166
Seanad Éireann
15 / 60
European Parliament
4 / 12
Local government
559 / 1,627
Website
www.finegael.org
Politics of the Republic of Ireland
Political parties
Elections

Fine Gael – The United Ireland Party,[2] more commonly known as Fine Gael (Irish pronunciation: [ˈfʲɪnʲə ˈɡeːl̪ˠ], meaning Family of the Irish or Tribe of the Irish[3]) is the second largest political party in Ireland in terms of parliamentary seat numbers and the largest in terms of local government members and members of the European Parliament.[4] It has the largest representation in terms of local council seats ahead of all other parties in the state.[5] It has a membership of 30,000,[6] and is the largest opposition party in the Oireachtas, the Irish parliament.

Fine Gael was founded on the 8 September 1933[7] following the merger of its parent party Cumann na nGaedhael, the National Centre Party and the National Guard, popularly known as the "Blueshirts". Its origins lie in the struggle for Irish independence and the pro-Treaty side in the Irish Civil War, identifying in particular Michael Collins as the founder of the movement.[8]

Fine Gael is generally seen as to the right of Fianna Fáil but has always been in power with the left wing Labour Party. Fine Gael describes itself as the party of the "progressive centre",[9] with core values focussed on fiscal rectitude, free enterprise and reward, individual rights and responsibilities.[10] It is strongly pro-EU integration and opposed to violent Irish republicanism. Fine Gael is Ireland's only party in the European People's Party (EPP); its MEPs sit with the European People's Party group. The party's youth wing, Young Fine Gael, was formed in 1977 and has approximately four thousand members.[11]

The current party leader is Enda Kenny. He was elected by a secret ballot of the parliamentary party on 5 June 2002.[12]

Contents

History

Ideology and policies

Michael Collins, founding father of the pro-Treaty movement, that would become Fine Gael.

Law and order party

Although Ireland's political spectrum was traditionally divided along Civil War lines, rather than the traditional European left-right spectrum, Fine Gael is described generally as a Christian-democratic party, with a focus on law and order, enterprise and reward, and fiscal rectitude.[13] As the descendent of the pro-Treaty factions in the Irish Civil War, Fine Gael has a strong affinity with Michael Collins and his legacy. He remains a symbol for the party, and the anniversary of his death is commemorated each year in August.[14]

Economically liberal

Fine Gael has, since its inception, portrayed itself as a party of fiscal rectitude and minimal government interference in economics, advocating pro-enterprise policies. Newly elected politicians for the party in the Dáil have strongly advocated liberal economic policies. Lucinda Creighton and Leo Varadkar in particular have been seen as strong advocates of a more neo-liberal approach to Ireland's economics woes and Ireland's unemployment problems.[15] Varadkar in particular has been a strong proponent of small, indigenous business, advocating that smaller firms should benefit from the government's recapitalisation program[16] Its former finance spokesman Richard Bruton's proposals have been seen as approaching problems from a pro-enterprise point of view. Its fairer budget website suggests that its solutions are "tough but fair".[17] 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 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. The SIPTU trade union has stated its opposition to Enda Kenny's assertion that the national wage agreement should be suspended. Kenny's comments have support however and the party attributes its significant rise in polls in 2008 to this.[18] In spite of this perceived opposition to Fine Gael from the left of the Irish political spectrum, the party has never entered into government except with the backing of the Labour Party.

Under Kenny the party has also strongly opposed the perceived "rip-off" society that has developed in Ireland, advocating reform of stealth taxes and stamp duty.[19]

Economic policies

Fine Gael's Simon Coveney launched what the party termed a radical re-organisation of the Irish Semi-State Company sector. Styled the New Economy and Recovery Authority (or NewERA), Coveney said that it is an economic stimulus plan that will "reshape the Irish economy for the challenges of the 21st Century".[20] Requiring an €18.2 billion investment in Energy, Communications and Water infrastructure over a four year period, it was promoted as a way to enhance energy security and digital reputation of Ireland. A very broad ranging document, it proposes the combined management of a portfolio of semi-state assets, and the sale of all other, non-essential services. The release of equity through the sale of the various state resources, including electricity generation services belonging to the ESB, Bord na Móna and Bord Gáis, in combination with use of money in the National Pensions Reserve Fund, is the means by which Fine Gael is proposing to fund its national stimulus package.[21]

The plan is a seen at being the basis of a Fine Gael program for government. Seen as being the longer term contribution to Fine Gael's economic plan, it has been publicised in combination with a more short term policy proposal from FG TD, Dr. Leo Varadkar. This document, termed "Hope for a Lost Generation", promises 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.[22]

Commentary on the FG's economic proposals has generally been positive from some economic commentators including Eddie Hobbs and David McWilliams who have praised the proposals stating that they have considerable potential. Eamon Gilmore's Labour Party has launched policies which are seen to be broadly consistent with the FG platform.[23]

Constitutional reform policies

Fine Gael is seen as being a constitutional party, with members and public representatives always showing considerable deference to the institutional organs of the Irish state. The party leadership has been eager to be seen to engage in an ongoing constitutional debate in Ireland on the topic of political reform. The debate which has been monitored by the Irish Times in its Renewing the Republic opinion pieces, has largely centred on the make up of the Oireachtas, the Irish parliament. FG's Phil Hogan TD, has published the party's answer to the political and constitutional reform question. In a policy document entitled New Politics, deputy Hogan has suggested creating a country with "a smaller, more dynamic and more responsive political system," reducing the size of the Dáil by 20, changing the way the Dáil works, and in a controversial move, abolishing the Irish senate, Seanad Éireann.[24]

Aiming to carry out the parties proposals through a series of constitutional referendums, the proposals were echoed by Labour leader Eamon Gilmore, when he proposed his own constitutional crusade at his 2010 party conference, shortly after.[25]

Social policies

Former Fine Gael logo until April 2009.

Fine Gael has been traditionally conservative in social matters for most of the twentieth century. This was due to the conservative Christian ethos of Irish society during this time. Possibly because of the Celtic tiger, a decline in Sunday church attendance and the rise of international media and social influences, significant opinion polls suggest that support has grown in Ireland for liberalisation. Fine Gael has adapted to these new social influences and while in government in 1996, it legalised divorce in Ireland after a referendum held on the 24 November in 1995.[26]

Under Enda Kenny, the party has pledged its support for the issue of civil unions in Ireland. Though not going as far as to support same sex marriage, the party ran advertisements in GCN (Gay Community News) advertising its commitments to same-sex couples. Support in the republic for same-sex marriage is estimated at roughly 63%, with 37% against.[27] Polls show that numbers supporting same-sex civil unions are much higher, at 84%.

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.[28] Fine Gael has become the first party in 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 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..."[29]

Fine Gael launched its FairCare campaign and website in April 2009, which states that the health service would be reformed away from a costly ineffective endeavour, into a publicly regulated system where universal health insurance would replace the existing provisions.[30]

This strategy was criticised by Fianna Fáil 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 German, Dutch and Canadian health systems.

International identity

The party is a member of the Centrist Democrat International and the European Peoples Party, while it sits with the European People's Party group in the European Parliament. Young Fine Gael is a member of the Youth of the European People's Party (YEPP).

Pro-European

Fine Gael is among the most pro-European integration parties in the Republic of Ireland, having supported the European Constitution,[31] the Lisbon Treaty, and advocating participation in European common defence.[32] Under Enda Kenny, the party has questioned Irish neutrality, with Kenny claiming that "the truth is, Ireland is not neutral. We are merely unaligned."[31]

European affiliations

The party is not identified particularly with belonging to any particular ideological platform. Some have inferred from its relationship to European counterparts via the EPP that it belongs on the centre-right.[33][34][35] Currently, the party conforms generally with European political parties that identify themselves as being Christian-democratic.[36] Most members in the party are happy with the description of "the progressive or compassionate centre".

Electoral performance

At the 2007 general election, Fine Gael gained 20 seats bringing them to a total of 51. The party ran candidates in all 43 constituencies, and had candidates elected in every constituency except Dublin Central, Dublin Mid West, Dublin North West and Kildare South.

Fine Gael won 14 seats in Seanad Éireann following the 2007 election, a loss of one from the previous election in 2002. With the eventual demise of the Progressive Democrats, their leader, Senator Ciarán Cannon joined Fine Gael bringing their representation in the Seanad to 15.[37]

At 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.[38] They gained 88 seats from their 2004 result.

At 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.[39]

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 most recent Fine Gael presidential candidate, Mary Banotti, finished second in the 1997 presidential election, with 29.3% of the vote.[40] In 2004, Fine Gael supported the re-election of President Mary McAleese.

Planning and Payment Tribunals

The Moriarty Tribunal has sat since 1997 and has investigated the granting of a mobile phone license to Esat Telecom by Michael Lowry when he was Fine Gael Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications in the Rainbow Coalition of the mid-1990s. Lowry resigned from the Cabinet after it was revealed at the Moriarty Tribunal that businessman Ben Dunne had paid for a IR£395,000 extension to Lowry's Tipperary home. Lowry, currently an independent TD, supports the Fianna Fáil–Green Party government in Dáil Éireann.

Following revelations at the Moriarty Tribunal on the 16th 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 Dr Fitzgerald left politics and Dr. 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.[41]

Allegations of Corruption

On 3 June 1999, Fine Gael made a voluntary disclosure and payment of £111,000 to the Revenue Commissioners for under-the-counter cash payments to its staff over a nine year period. This figure related to PAYE and PRSI arrears and included a similar figure for payment of interest.[42]

In 2003, the Mahon Tribunal, set up to investigate allegations of corruption among Irish politicians, heard that Liam T. Cosgrave had accepted illegal payments from property developers in return for voting to rezone property in Dublin. He resigned from the Fine Gael party when this became known. On the 17 October 2005, the former senator pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to making a false or misleading report of a political donation.[43]

Anne Devitt, a Fine Gael councillor was listed on 15 September 2009 as a tax defaulter by Revenue. Ms Devitt paid €50,000 in settlement of undeclared income tax and CGT, and interest and accumulated penalties. A Fine Gael spokeswoman was quoted as saying “Our understanding is that it was an oversight that has been fully resolved,” [44].

Leadership

Mayo TD Enda Kenny was elected leader of Fine Gael in a secret ballot of the parliamentary party on 5 June 2002. Kenny defeated Richard Bruton, Phil Hogan and Gay Mitchell in the leadership election, which was triggered by the resignation of Michael Noonan following the 2002 general election. The position of deputy leader was held by Dublin North Central TD Richard Bruton until June 2010.[45] He was preceded as deputy leader by Jim Mitchell.

List of party leaders

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Politics portal
Leader Period Constituency
Eoin O'Duffy 1933–34 None[46]
W. T. Cosgrave 1934–44 Carlow–Kilkenny
Richard Mulcahy 1944–59[47][48] Tipperary
James Dillon 1959–65 Monaghan
Liam Cosgrave 1965–77 Dún Laoghaire
Garret FitzGerald 1977–87 Dublin South East
Alan Dukes 1987–90 Kildare South
John Bruton 1990–2001 Meath
Michael Noonan 2001–02 Limerick East
Enda Kenny 2002–present Mayo

General election results

Election Dáil Share of votes Seats Government Total seats
1937 9th 34.8% 48 Fianna Fáil government 138
1938 10th 33.3% 45 Fianna Fáil government 138
1943 11th 23.1% 32 Fianna Fáil government 138
1944 12th 21.8% 30 Fianna Fáil government 138
1948 13th 19.8% 31 Fine Gael–Labour Party–Clann na Poblachta–Clann na Talmhan–National Labor government 147
1951 14th 25.7% 40 Fianna Fáil government 147
1954 15th 32.0% 50 Fine Gael–Labour Party–Clann na Talmhan government 147
1957 16th 26.6% 40 Fianna Fáil government 147
1961 17th 32.0% 47 Fianna Fáil government 144
1965 18th 33.9% 47 Fianna Fáil government 144
1969 19th 33.3% 50 Fianna Fáil government 144
1973 20th 35.1% 54 Fine Gael–Labour Party government 144
1977 21st 30.6% 43 Fianna Fáil government 148
1981 22nd 39.2% 65 Fine Gael–Labour Party government 166
1982 (Feb) 23rd 37.3% 63 Fianna Fáil government 166
1982 (Nov) 24th 39.2% 70 Fine Gael–Labour Party government 166
1987 25th 27.1% 50 Fianna Fáil government 166
1989 26th 29.3% 55 Fianna Fáil–Progressive Democrats government 166
1992 27th 24.5% 45 Fianna Fáil–Labour Party 166
Fine Gael–Labour Party–Democratic Left[A]
1997 28th 27.9% 54 Fianna Fáil–Progressive Democrats government 166
2002 29th 22.5% 31 Fianna Fáil–Progressive Democrats government 166
2007 30th 27.3% 51 Fianna Fáil–Green Party–Progressive Democrats government 166

A In December 1994, Fine Gael, the Labour Party and Democratic Left entered into government without a general election being called.

Front bench

Portfolio[49] Name Since
Leader of the Opposition,
Northern Ireland		 Enda Kenny 2002
Deputy Leader of the Opposition,
Health and Children		 James Reilly 2010
Finance Michael Noonan 2010
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Andrew Doyle 2010
Children Charles Flanagan 2010
Communications and Natural Resources Leo Varadkar 2010
Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs Frank Feighan 2010
Defence David Stanton 2010
Education and Skills Fergus O'Dowd 2010
Enterprise, Jobs and Economic Planning Richard Bruton 2010
Environment, Heritage and Local Government Phil Hogan 2007
Foreign Affairs Seán Barrett 2010
Innovation and Research Deirdre Clune 2010
Justice and Law Reform Alan Shatter 2010
Older Citizens Catherine Byrne 2010
Small Business John Perry 2010
Social Protection Michael Ring 2010
Tourism, Culture and Sport Jimmy Deenihan 2010
Transport Simon Coveney 2010
Chief Whip Paul Kehoe 2004
Seanad Leader Frances Fitzgerald 2007

Young Fine Gael

Young Fine Gael (YFG) is the youth movement of Fine Gael. It was founded in 1976 by the then leader Garret Fitzgerald. It caters for young people under 30 with an interest in Fine Gael and politics, in cities, towns, parishes and third level colleges throughout Ireland. YFG has 4,000 members nationwide.[50] YFG is led by its national executive consisting of eleven members elected on a regional basis, and on a national panel.

See also

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Wolfram Nordsieck. "http://www.parties-and-elections.de/ireland.html". Parties-and-elections.de. http://www.parties-and-elections.de/ireland.html. Retrieved 2010-06-04. 
  2. ↑ "Fine Gael 'the United Ireland' party should support Six-County representation in Dáil". Sinn Féin website. http://www.sinnfein.ie/contents/6573. Retrieved 5 April 2010. 
  3. ↑ Often anglicised to /ˌfɪnə ˈɡeɪl/
  4. ↑ Angus Reid Global Monitor Retrieved on 10 May 2009. An opinion poll in The Irish Times of 14 May 2009 put Fine Gael at 38% and Fianna Fáil at 21%, a 17% difference, the largest difference in the history of the two parties. Prior to late 2008 Fine Gael had only been higher than Fianna Fáil in one poll (April 1983) and then by a single point.
  5. ↑ [1] Local election results from RTÉ website showing FG as largest party in Ireland. Retrieved on 8 June 2009.
  6. ↑ Fine Gael. Join Fine Gael. Retrieved on 31 October 2007.
  7. ↑ "History of Fine Gael". Generalmichaelcollins.com. http://generalmichaelcollins.com/Fine_Gael/F.G.History.html. Retrieved 2010-06-04. 
  8. ↑ The Irish Times. Legacy of the Easter Rising. Retrieved on 31 October 2007.
  9. ↑ "Party Leader". Finegael.ie. http://www.finegael.ie/page.cfm/area/information/page/PartyLeader/pkey/655. Retrieved 2010-06-04. 
  10. ↑ Fine Gael. The party largely conforms to the idea of Christian democracy. See Our Values. Retrieved on 31 October 2007.
  11. ↑ "Election 2007 - Youth parties". RTÉ News. http://www.rte.ie/news/elections2007/youthparties.html. Retrieved 31 October 2007. 
  12. ↑ "Enda Kenny elected Fine Gael leader". RTÉ News. 5 June 2002. http://www.rte.ie/news/2002/0605/finegael.html. Retrieved 31 October 2007. 
  13. ↑ [2] Fine Gael is a party of fiscal rectitude. Retrieved on 19 January 2010.
  14. ↑ The Hogan Stand (21 September 2005). Michael Collins' view of life in Achill Gaeltacht. Retrieved on 31 October 2007.
  15. ↑ "Lucinda CREIGHTON TD » Economy Vision". Lucindacreighton.ie. http://www.lucindacreighton.ie/?cat=9. Retrieved 2010-06-04. 
  16. ↑ "Leo Varadkar » Small Business Fund must be included in recapitalisation plan". Leovaradkar.ie. 2008-12-16. http://www.leovaradkar.ie/?p=256. Retrieved 2010-06-04. 
  17. ↑ http://www.fairerbudget.com/alternative.html
  18. ↑ "Union criticises FG on wage agreements position while FG gains 35% in polls". Rte.ie. 2008-11-23. http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1123/finegael.html. Retrieved 2010-06-04. 
  19. ↑ Fine Gael. 2007 General Election Manifesto. Retrieved on 31 October 2007.
  20. ↑ FG's New Era policy commentated on by RTÉ - http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0326/economy.html, RTÉ Website, 26th April 2010
  21. ↑ FG Launches 11bn Euro Stimulus Plan - http://www.rte.ie/business/2009/0326/economy2.html, RTÉ Website, 26th April, 2010
  22. ↑ FG Hope for a Lost Generation Document - http://yfg.ie/downloads/2010JobsLeaflet.pdf, Young Fine Gael website, 26th April, 2010
  23. ↑ Gilmore's Economic Policies and Fine gael - http://www.thepost.ie/story/text/eyidqlsnql/, The Sunday Post, April 26th, 2010
  24. ↑ "Irish Times on Kenny Conference Speech, April 26th, 2010". M.irishtimes.com. 2010-03-20. http://m.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0320/breaking39.html?via=rel. Retrieved 2010-06-04. 
  25. ↑ Commentary of Gilmore conference speech and Labour consistency with FG policy - http://www.thepost.ie/story/text/eyidqlsnql/, April 26th, 2010
  26. ↑ "Referendum 24 November 1995 Dissolution of Marriage". Elections Ireland. 1995-11-24. http://electionsireland.org/results/referendum/refresult.cfm?ref=1995R. Retrieved 2010-06-04. 
  27. ↑ Irish Times Civil Partnership Poll
  28. ↑ "Euro Health Consumer Index 2006" (PDF). http://www.healthpowerhouse.com/media/RaportEHCI2006en.pdf. Retrieved 2010-06-04. 
  29. ↑ "Dr. James O' Rehilly comments on health service". Irishtimes.com. 2009-04-27. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0427/breaking45.htm. Retrieved 2010-06-04. 
  30. ↑ "Fine Gael launch Fair Care Website and campaign". Faircare.ie. http://www.faircare.ie. Retrieved 2010-06-04. 
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 National Forum on Europe (26 October 2006). Enda Kenny calls for Unified EU Approach to Immigration. Retrieved on 31 October 2007.
  32. ↑ National Forum on Europe (3 April 2003). Should we back a pledge to defend others if they come under attack?. Retrieved on 31 October 2007
  33. ↑ "Fine Gael - MSN Encarta". Fine Gael - MSN Encarta. http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761580393/fine_gael.html. 
  34. ↑ "Encyclopedia of British and Irish ... - Google Libri". Books.google.it. http://books.google.it/books?id=qps14mSlghcC&pg=PA218&lpg=PA218&dq=fine+gael+social-democratic&source=web&ots=2i4HL3BFX8&sig=8FtrQ61vfx3mghWuJ2EJoJUtKC4&hl=it. Retrieved 2010-06-04. 
  35. ↑ Valencia (2007-01-07). "What Fine Gael needs to do is find its bottom - National News, Frontpage". Independent.ie. http://www.independent.ie/national-news/what-fine-gael-needs-to-do-is-find-its-bottom-120576.html. Retrieved 2010-06-04. 
  36. ↑ Fine Gael’s European Strategy « EAST WEST EUROPE | Ireland and the Wider Europe, 2008
  37. ↑ "Cannon formally joins Fine Gael". RTÉ News. 24 March 2009. http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0324/cannonc.html. Retrieved 6 September 2009. 
  38. ↑ "2009 Local Elections". ElectionsIreland.org. http://www.electionsireland.org/results/local/2009local.cfm. Retrieved 6 September 2009. 
  39. ↑ "Elections 2009 – European Elections: National Summary". RTÉ News. http://www.rte.ie/news/elections/european/. Retrieved 6 September 2009. 
  40. ↑ "1997 Presidential Election". ElectionsIreland.org. http://electionsireland.org/changes.cfm?election=1997P&cons=194. Retrieved 6 September 2009. 
  41. ↑ "RTÉ News: AIB and Ansbacher wrote off Fitzgerald's £200,000 debt". Rte.ie. 1999-02-17. http://www.rte.ie/news/1999/0217/fitzgerald.html. Retrieved 2010-06-04. 
  42. ↑ "RTÉ News: Fine Gael makes payment to Revenue". Rte.ie. http://www.rte.ie/news/2001/0511/finegael.html. Retrieved 2010-06-04. 
  43. ↑ "RTÉ News: Cosgrave pleads guilty to donation offence". Rte.ie. http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/1017/cosgravel.html. Retrieved 2010-06-04. 
  44. ↑ "FG councillor, Galway solicitor and jockey among tax defaulters - The Irish Times - Wed, Sep 16, 2009". The Irish Times. 2009-09-16. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2009/0916/1224254658275.html. Retrieved 2010-06-04. 
  45. ↑ "Richard Bruton sacked as FG deputy leader". RTÉ News. 14 June 2010. http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0614/finegael.html. Retrieved 14 June 2010. 
  46. ↑ O'Duffy did not hold a seat in the Oireachtas while he was party leader.
  47. ↑ While Mulcahy was a member of the Seanad in 1944, Tom O'Higgins acted as parliamentary party leader.
  48. ↑ Between 1948 and 1959, John A. Costello served as parliamentary leader.
  49. ↑ "Bruton & Noonan return to Fine Gael frontbench". RTÉ News. 1 July 2010. http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0701/finegael.html. Retrieved 1 July 2010. 
  50. ↑ RTÉ News. 2007 General Election. [3]. Retrieved on 1 July 2009

Bibliography

  • Nealon's Guide to the 29th Dáil and Seanad (Gill and Macmillan, 2002) (ISBN 0-7171-3288-9)
  • Stephen Collins, "The Cosgrave Legacy" (Blackwater, 1996) (ISBN 0-86121-658-X)
  • Garret FitzGerald, "Garret FitzGerald: An Autobiography" (Gill and Macmillan, 1991) (ISBN 0-7171-1600-X)
  • Jack Jones, In Your Opinion: Political and Social Trends in Ireland through the Eyes of the Electorate (Townhouse, 2001) (ISBN 1-86059-149-3)
  • Maurice Manning, James Dillon: A Biography (Wolfhound, 1999/2000) (ISBN 0-86327-823-X)
  • Stephen O'Byrnes, Hiding Behind a Face: Fine Gael under FitzGerald (Gill and Macmillan: 1986) (ISBN 0-7171-1448-1)
  • Raymond Smith, Garret: The Enigma (Aherlow, 1985) (no ISBN)

External links

Political parties in the Republic of Ireland Republic of Ireland
Dáil Éireann (166):

Fianna Fáil (70) · Fine Gael (51) · Labour Party (20) · Green Party (6) · Sinn Féin (5) · Independent (10)
Seanad Éireann (60):

Fianna Fáil (27) · Fine Gael (15) · Labour Party (6) · Green Party (2) · Independent (7)
European Parliament
(12 out of 736):

Fine Gael (EPP, 4) · Fianna Fáil (ALDE, 3) · Labour Party (S&D, 3) · Socialist Party (EUL–NGL, 1) · Independent (ALDE, 1)
Represented
at local level:

Éirígí · Letterkenny Residents Party · People Before Profit Alliance · South Kerry Independent Alliance · Workers and Unemployed Action Group · Workers' Party
Others:

Christian Solidarity Party · Communist Party of Ireland · Fathers Rights-Responsibility Party · Irish Republican Socialist Party · Republican Sinn Féin · Seniors Solidarity Party · Socialist Workers Party
Portal:Politics – List of political parties – Politics of the Republic of Ireland
Fine Gael
Leaders
Eoin O'Duffy (1933–1934) · W. T. Cosgrave (1934–1944) · Richard Mulcahy (1944–1959) · James Dillon (1959–1965) · Liam Cosgrave (1965–1977) · Garret FitzGerald (1977–1987) · Alan Dukes (1987–1990) · John Bruton (1990–2001) · Michael Noonan (2001–2002) · Enda Kenny (2002–)
Deputy leaders
Nora Owen (?–2001) · Jim Mitchell (2001–2002) · Richard Bruton (2002–2010) · James Reilly (2010–)
Leadership elections
1934 (W. T. Cosgrave) · 1944 (Mulcahy) · 1959 (Dillon) · 1965 (L. Cosgrave) · 1977 (FitzGerald) · 1987 (Dukes) · 1990 (Bruton) · 2001 (Noonan) · 2002 (Kenny)
See also
Young Fine Gael · History of Fine Gael · Fine Gael Front bench
Fine Gael
Leaders
Eoin O'Duffy (1933–1934) · W. T. Cosgrave (1934–1944) · Richard Mulcahy (1944–1959) · James Dillon (1959–1965) · Liam Cosgrave (1965–1977) · Garret FitzGerald (1977–1987) · Alan Dukes (1987–1990) · John Bruton (1990–2001) · Michael Noonan (2001–2002) · Enda Kenny (2002–)
Deputy leaders
Nora Owen (?–2001) · Jim Mitchell (2001–2002) · Richard Bruton (2002–2010) · James Reilly (2010–)
Leadership elections
1934 (W. T. Cosgrave) · 1944 (Mulcahy) · 1959 (Dillon) · 1965 (L. Cosgrave) · 1977 (FitzGerald) · 1987 (Dukes) · 1990 (Bruton) · 2001 (Noonan) · 2002 (Kenny)
See also
Young Fine Gael · History of Fine Gael · Fine Gael Front bench