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'''Fianna Fáil''' {{IPAc-en|f|ɨ|ˌ|æ|n|ə|_|ˈ|f|ɔɪ|l}},<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Fianna-Fáil?q=Fianna+Fáil |title=Fianna Fáil: definition of Fianna Fáil in Oxford dictionary (British & World English). Meaning, pronunciation and origin of the word |article=Definition of '''Fianna Fáil''' in English |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2013 |website=Oxford Language Dictionaries |accessdate=30 November 2013}}</ref> also known as '''Fianna Fáil, The Republican Party''',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fiannafail.ie/content/pages/5097/ |title=Constitution of Fianna Fáil |accessdate=8 December 2013 |work= |publisher=Fianna Fáil |quote=The Movement [Fianna Fáil] shall be organised and known as Fianna Fáil, The Republican Party, in accordance with the Rules annexed hereto}}</ref> is a [[centrism|centrist]]<ref name=itturmoil/><ref name=csmwalsh/><ref name=telegraphhalligan/> to [[centre-right]]<ref name=guardiantitley/><ref name=ftsmyth/><ref name=nationalhaughey/> and [[conservatism|conservative]]<ref name="Banchoff1999">{{cite book|author=T. Banchoff|title=Legitimacy and the European Union|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=GgvLEFPY8l4C&pg=PA127|accessdate=26 August 2012|date=28 June 1999|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-0-415-18188-4|page=127}}</ref><ref name="KourvetarisMoschonas1996">{{cite book|author1=George A. Kourvetaris|author2=Andreas Moschonas|title=The Impact of European Integration: Political, Sociological, and Economic Changes|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=8JXZzr5TJn4C&pg=PA208|accessdate=26 August 2012|year=1996|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-275-95356-0|page=208}}</ref><ref name="Scanlan2006">{{cite book|first=Margaret |last=Scanlan|title=Culture and Customs of Ireland|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=bAKGzfpyWxMC&pg=PA74|accessdate=26 August 2012|date=30 March 2006|publisher=[[Greenwood Publishing Group]]|isbn=978-0-313-33162-6|page=74}}</ref><ref name="BudgeRobertson1987">{{cite book|author1=Ian Budge|author2=David Robertson|author3=Derek Hearl|title=Ideology, Strategy and Party Change: Spatial Analyses of Post-War Election Programmes in 19 Democracies|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=I63z5nm0f94C&pg=PA137|accessdate=26 August 2012|date=9 July 1987|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|isbn=978-0-521-30648-5|page=137}}</ref><ref name="Slomp2011">{{cite book|author=Hans Slomp|title=Europe, a Political Profile: An American Companion to European Politics|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=V1uzkNq8xfIC&pg=PA333|year=2011|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-39181-1|page=333}}</ref> [[List of political parties in the Republic of Ireland|political party in the Republic of Ireland]]. Originally an [[Irish republicanism|Irish republican]] party, it was founded on 23 March 1926 after a split in [[Sinn Féin]] on the issue of [[abstentionism]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fiannafail.ie/content/pages/5098/ |title=History of Fianna Fáil &#124; Fianna Fáil |publisher=Fiannafail.ie |date= |accessdate=16 January 2014}}</ref> Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into [[English language|English]] as ''Soldiers of Destiny'', although a more accurate rendition would be ''Warriors of Fál'' ("[[Fál]]" being a legendary name for Ireland).<ref>{{cite book|last=Ó Dónaill|first=Niall|editor=(advisory ed. Tomás de Bhaldraithe)|year=1977|title=Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla|publisher=[[An Gúm]]|location=Dublin|language=Irish|isbn=1-85791-037-0|pages=512, 540}}</ref> Historically, Fianna Fáil has been seen as to the [[Left-wing politics|left]], to the [[Left-wing politics|left]] of [[Fine Gael]] and to the [[Right-wing politics|right]] of [[Sinn Féin]] and the [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]] and is generally seen as a classic "[[big tent|catch all]]" [[populism|populist]] party - representing a broad range of people from all [[social class]]es.<ref name="martin">{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0126/breaking8.html|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=26 January 2011|title=Micheal Martin elected as eighth leader of Fianna Fáil}}</ref><ref name="cowen">{{cite web|title=Cowen Calls on Government to resist OECD right wing agenda|url=http://www.fiannafail.ie/news/entry/cowen-calls-on-government-to-resist-oecd-right-wing-agenda|publisher=Fianna Fáil|date=26 May 2011|last=Cowen|first=Barry|authorlink=Barry Cowen|accessdate=24 June 2013}}</ref> Fianna Fáil has led governments including parties of the centre-left (Labour and the [[Green Party (Ireland)|Green Party]]) and of the centre-right (the now-defunct [[Progressive Democrats]]). It has been led by Micheál Martin since January 2011.<ref name="martin" />
'''Fianna Fáil''' {{IPAc-en|f|ɨ|ˌ|æ|n|ə|_|ˈ|f|ɔɪ|l}},<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Fianna-Fáil?q=Fianna+Fáil |title=Fianna Fáil: definition of Fianna Fáil in Oxford dictionary (British & World English). Meaning, pronunciation and origin of the word |article=Definition of '''Fianna Fáil''' in English |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2013 |website=Oxford Language Dictionaries |accessdate=30 November 2013}}</ref> also known as '''Fianna Fáil, The Republican Party''',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fiannafail.ie/content/pages/5097/ |title=Constitution of Fianna Fáil |accessdate=8 December 2013 |work= |publisher=Fianna Fáil |quote=The Movement [Fianna Fáil] shall be organised and known as Fianna Fáil, The Republican Party, in accordance with the Rules annexed hereto}}</ref> is a [[centrism|centrist]]<ref name=itturmoil/><ref name=csmwalsh/><ref name=telegraphhalligan/> to [[centre-right]]<ref name=guardiantitley/><ref name=ftsmyth/><ref name=nationalhaughey/> and [[conservatism|conservative]]<ref name="Banchoff1999">{{cite book|author=T. Banchoff|title=Legitimacy and the European Union|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=GgvLEFPY8l4C&pg=PA127|accessdate=26 August 2012|date=28 June 1999|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-0-415-18188-4|page=127}}</ref><ref name="KourvetarisMoschonas1996">{{cite book|author1=George A. Kourvetaris|author2=Andreas Moschonas|title=The Impact of European Integration: Political, Sociological, and Economic Changes|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=8JXZzr5TJn4C&pg=PA208|accessdate=26 August 2012|year=1996|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-275-95356-0|page=208}}</ref><ref name="Scanlan2006">{{cite book|first=Margaret |last=Scanlan|title=Culture and Customs of Ireland|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=bAKGzfpyWxMC&pg=PA74|accessdate=26 August 2012|date=30 March 2006|publisher=[[Greenwood Publishing Group]]|isbn=978-0-313-33162-6|page=74}}</ref><ref name="BudgeRobertson1987">{{cite book|author1=Ian Budge|author2=David Robertson|author3=Derek Hearl|title=Ideology, Strategy and Party Change: Spatial Analyses of Post-War Election Programmes in 19 Democracies|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=I63z5nm0f94C&pg=PA137|accessdate=26 August 2012|date=9 July 1987|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|isbn=978-0-521-30648-5|page=137}}</ref><ref name="Slomp2011">{{cite book|author=Hans Slomp|title=Europe, a Political Profile: An American Companion to European Politics|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=V1uzkNq8xfIC&pg=PA333|year=2011|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-39181-1|page=333}}</ref> [[List of political parties in the Republic of Ireland|political party in the Republic of Ireland]]. Originally an [[Irish republicanism|Irish republican]] party, it was founded on 23 March 1926 after a split in [[Sinn Féin]] on the issue of [[abstentionism]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fiannafail.ie/content/pages/5098/ |title=History of Fianna Fáil &#124; Fianna Fáil |publisher=Fiannafail.ie |date= |accessdate=16 January 2014}}</ref> Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into [[English language|English]] as ''Soldiers of Destiny'', although a more accurate rendition would be ''Warriors of Fál'' ("[[Fál]]" being a legendary name for Ireland).<ref>{{cite book|last=Ó Dónaill|first=Niall|editor=(advisory ed. Tomás de Bhaldraithe)|year=1977|title=Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla|publisher=[[An Gúm]]|location=Dublin|language=Irish|isbn=1-85791-037-0|pages=512, 540}}</ref> Historically, Fianna Fáil has been seen as to the [[Left-wing politics|left]] of [[Fine Gael]] and to the [[Right-wing politics|right]] of [[Sinn Féin]] and the [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]] and is generally seen as a classic "[[big tent|catch all]]" [[populism|populist]] party - representing a broad range of people from all [[social class]]es.<ref name="martin">{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0126/breaking8.html|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=26 January 2011|title=Micheal Martin elected as eighth leader of Fianna Fáil}}</ref><ref name="cowen">{{cite web|title=Cowen Calls on Government to resist OECD right wing agenda|url=http://www.fiannafail.ie/news/entry/cowen-calls-on-government-to-resist-oecd-right-wing-agenda|publisher=Fianna Fáil|date=26 May 2011|last=Cowen|first=Barry|authorlink=Barry Cowen|accessdate=24 June 2013}}</ref> Fianna Fáil has led governments including parties of the centre-left (Labour and the [[Green Party (Ireland)|Green Party]]) and of the centre-right (the now-defunct [[Progressive Democrats]]). It has been led by Micheál Martin since January 2011.<ref name="martin" />


From the formation of the first Fianna Fáil government on 9 March 1932 until the election of 2011, the party was in power for 61 of 79 years. Its longest continuous period in office was 15 years and 11 months (March 1932–February 1948). Its single longest period out of office, in that time, has been 4 years and 4 months (March 1973–July 1977). Seven of the party's eight leaders have served as [[Taoiseach]]. It was the largest party in [[Dáil Éireann]] at every general election from the [[Irish general election, 1932|1932 general election]] until the [[Irish general election, 2011|2011 general election]], when it suffered the worst defeat of a sitting government in the history of the Irish state, a loss described as "historic" in its proportions,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2011/0301/1224291075967.html |title=Recapturing relevance a huge challenge for FF |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=1 May 2011 |accessdate=24 June 2013}}</ref> where it saw its electoral support base diminished by 75%, as a reaction to the intervention, and in the running of the Irish economy, of the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank in November 2010.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2011/0228/1224291011457.html |title=Angry electorate coldly voted to liquidate Fianna Fáil |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=28 February 2011 |accessdate=24 June 2013}}</ref> After the February 2011 election, it moved from being the largest party to the third-largest party in the [[Members of the 31st Dáil|31st Dáil]].
From the formation of the first Fianna Fáil government on 9 March 1932 until the election of 2011, the party was in power for 61 of 79 years. Its longest continuous period in office was 15 years and 11 months (March 1932–February 1948). Its single longest period out of office, in that time, has been 4 years and 4 months (March 1973–July 1977). Seven of the party's eight leaders have served as [[Taoiseach]]. It was the largest party in [[Dáil Éireann]] at every general election from the [[Irish general election, 1932|1932 general election]] until the [[Irish general election, 2011|2011 general election]], when it suffered the worst defeat of a sitting government in the history of the Irish state, a loss described as "historic" in its proportions,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2011/0301/1224291075967.html |title=Recapturing relevance a huge challenge for FF |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=1 May 2011 |accessdate=24 June 2013}}</ref> where it saw its electoral support base diminished by 75%, as a reaction to the intervention, and in the running of the Irish economy, of the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank in November 2010.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2011/0228/1224291011457.html |title=Angry electorate coldly voted to liquidate Fianna Fáil |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=28 February 2011 |accessdate=24 June 2013}}</ref> After the February 2011 election, it moved from being the largest party to the third-largest party in the [[Members of the 31st Dáil|31st Dáil]].

Revision as of 03:08, 18 December 2014

Fianna Fáil
LeaderMicheál Martin TD
Secretary-GeneralSeán Dorgan
FounderÉamon de Valera
Founded23 March 1926 (1926-03-23)
Split fromSinn Féin[1]
Headquarters65–66 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
Youth wingÓgra Fianna Fáil
Membership (2013)18,500 [2]
IdeologyConservatism[3][4][5][6]
Populism[7]
Political positionCentrist[8][9][10] to Centre-right[11][12][13]
European affiliationAlliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
International affiliationLiberal International (observer)
ColoursGreen, orange
Dáil Éireann
20 / 166
Seanad Éireann
14 / 60
European Parliament
0 / 11
Local government
267 / 949
Website
www.fiannafail.ie

Fianna Fáil /f[invalid input: 'ɨ']ˌænə ˈfɔɪl/,[14] also known as Fianna Fáil, The Republican Party,[15] is a centrist[8][9][10] to centre-right[11][12][13] and conservative[3][4][5][6][16] political party in the Republic of Ireland. Originally an Irish republican party, it was founded on 23 March 1926 after a split in Sinn Féin on the issue of abstentionism.[17] Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál ("Fál" being a legendary name for Ireland).[18] Historically, Fianna Fáil has been seen as to the left of Fine Gael and to the right of Sinn Féin and the Labour Party and is generally seen as a classic "catch all" populist party - representing a broad range of people from all social classes.[19][20] Fianna Fáil has led governments including parties of the centre-left (Labour and the Green Party) and of the centre-right (the now-defunct Progressive Democrats). It has been led by Micheál Martin since January 2011.[19]

From the formation of the first Fianna Fáil government on 9 March 1932 until the election of 2011, the party was in power for 61 of 79 years. Its longest continuous period in office was 15 years and 11 months (March 1932–February 1948). Its single longest period out of office, in that time, has been 4 years and 4 months (March 1973–July 1977). Seven of the party's eight leaders have served as Taoiseach. It was the largest party in Dáil Éireann at every general election from the 1932 general election until the 2011 general election, when it suffered the worst defeat of a sitting government in the history of the Irish state, a loss described as "historic" in its proportions,[21] where it saw its electoral support base diminished by 75%, as a reaction to the intervention, and in the running of the Irish economy, of the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank in November 2010.[22] After the February 2011 election, it moved from being the largest party to the third-largest party in the 31st Dáil.

Fianna Fáil joined the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) party on 16 April 2009, and the party's MEPs sat in the ALDE Group during the 7th European Parliament term from June 2009 to 1 July 2014. The party is an observer affiliate of the Liberal International.[23]

The party is also organised in Northern Ireland but has yet to contest an election there.

History

File:Fianna Fáil logo.svg
Alternative logo

Fianna Fáil was founded by Éamon de Valera when he and a number of other members split from Sinn Féin when his motion — which called for elected members be allowed to take their seats in the Dáil if and when the controversial oath of allegiance was removed — failed to pass at the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis in 1926.

de Valera led anti-Treaty Sinn Féin during the Irish Civil War (1922–23) before resigning from the party in protest at the party's hard-line policy of abstentionism, the refusal to accept the legitimacy of the Free State or Dáil Éireann. Though his new party, Fianna Fáil, was also opposed to the Treaty settlement, it adopted a different approach of aiming to republicanise the Irish Free State. As far as the party's economic policies are concerned, the Fianna Fáil's platform of economic autarky had appeal among the farmers, working-class people and the poor, whilst initially alienating more affluent classes.[24]

Organisation and structure

Fianna Fáil's success was credited by The Irish Times to its local structure. The basic unit was the cumann (branch) which were then grouped into comhairle ceantair (district branch) and a comhairle dáil ceantair (constituency branch) in every constituency. At the party's height, it boasted 3,000 cumainn, an average of 75 per constituency. The party claimed 55,000 members in 2004, a figure which Eoin O'Malley, a political scientist, considers exaggerated compared to membership figures for other parties.

However since the early 1990s the cumann structure was weakened. As every cumann was entitled to three votes to selection conventions irrespective of size, a large number of cumainn became in effect "paper cumainn" only used to ensure an aspiring or sitting candidate got enough votes. Another problem arose with the emergence of parallel organisations grouped around candidates or elected officials. Supporters and election workers for a particular candidate were loyal to a candidate and not to the party. If the candidate was to leave the party, through either resignation, retirement or defeat at election, the candidate's supporters would often depart. Although this phenomenon was nothing new, (the most famous example being Neil Blaney's "Donegal Mafia")[25] it increased significantly from the early 1990s particularly in the Dublin Region with former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's "Drumcondra mafia" and the separate groups supporting Tom Kitt and Séamus Brennan in Dublin South largely separate from the official party structure.

Since the 2007 election, the party's structure has significantly weakened. This was in part exacerbated by significant infighting between candidates in the run up to the 2011 general election.[26] The Irish Times estimated that half of its 3,000 cumainn are effectively moribund. This fraction rises in Dublin with the exception of Dublin West, the former seat of both Brian Lenihan, Snr and Brian Lenihan, Jnr.[27]

Ideology

Fianna Fáil is seen as a typical catch-all party. R. Ken Carty wrote of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael that they were 'heterogeneous in their bases of support, relatively undifferentiated in terms of policy or programme, and remarkably stable in their support levels'. Evidence from expert surveys, opinion polls and candidate surveys all fail to identify strong distinctions between the two largest parties, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.[28][29][30][31] Many point to Ireland's civil war politics and feel that the basis for the division is the disagreement about the strategy to achieve a united Ireland. Kevin Byrne and political scientist Eoin O'Malley rejected this and have argued that the differences between the two parties goes much further back in Irish history. They linked the parties to different nationalist traditions (Irish Enlightenment and Gaelic Nationalist) which in turn could be linked to migrations of Anglo-Norman and new English into Ireland and the 'native' Gaelic population.[32]

The party's name and logo incorporates the words 'The Republican Party'. According to Fianna Fáil, "Republican here stands both for the unity of the island and a commitment to the historic principles of European republican philosophy, namely liberty, equality and fraternity."[33]

Leadership and president

Although the posts of leader and party president of Fianna Fáil are separate, with the former elected by the Parliamentary Party and the latter elected by the Ardfheis (thus allowing for the posts to be held by different people, in theory), in practice they have always been held by the one person. However, as the Ardfheis may have already been held in any given year by the time a new leader is elected, the selection of the new party president might not take place until the next year.

The following are the terms of office as party leader and as Taoiseach:

Leader Period Constituency Periods in office (as Taoiseach)
Éamon de Valera 1926–1959 Clare 1932193319371938194319441948; 19511954; 1957–1959
(Government of the 7th Dáil, 8th Dáil, 9th Dáil, 10th Dáil, 11th Dáil, 12th Dáil, 14th Dáil and 16th Dáil)
Seán Lemass 1959–1966 Dublin South–Central 1959–19611965–1966
(Government of the 16th Dáil, 17th Dáil and 18th Dáil)
Jack Lynch 1966–1979 Cork Borough (1948–69)
Cork City North–West (1969–77)
Cork City (1977–81)
1966–19691973; 1977–1979
(Government of the 18th Dáil, 19th Dáil and 21st Dáil)
Charles Haughey 1979–1992 Dublin North–East (1957–77)
Dublin Artane (1977–81)
Dublin North–Central (1981–92)
1979–1981; Feb 1982Nov 1982; 19871989–1992
(Government of the 21st Dáil, 23rd Dáil, 25th Dáil and 26th Dáil)
Albert Reynolds 1992–1994 Longford–Roscommon 1992–1992–1994
(22nd Government of Ireland and 23rd Government of Ireland)
Bertie Ahern 1994–2008 Dublin Central 199720022007–2008
(Government of the 28th Dáil, 29th Dáil and 30th Dáil)
Brian Cowen 2008–2011 Laois–Offaly 2008–2011
(Government of the 30th Dáil)
Micheál Martin 2011–present Cork South–Central

Deputy leader

Name Period Constituency
Joseph Brennan 1973–77 Donegal–Leitrim
George Colley 1977–82 Dublin Central
Ray MacSharry 1982–83 Sligo–Leitrim
Brian Lenihan, Snr 1983–90 Dublin West
John P. Wilson 1990–92 Cavan
Bertie Ahern 1992–94 Dublin Central
Mary O'Rourke 1995–2002 Longford–Westmeath
Brian Cowen 2002–08 Laois–Offaly
Mary Coughlan 2008–11 Donegal South–West
Mary Hanafin 2011 Dún Laoghaire
Brian Lenihan, Jnr 2011 Dublin West
Éamon Ó Cuív 2011–12 Galway West
Position abolished

Seanad leader

Name Period Panel
Eoin Ryan, Snr 1977–82 Industrial and Commercial Panel
Mick Lanigan 1982–90 Industrial and Commercial Panel (1982–89)
Nominated member of Seanad Éireann (1989–90)
Seán Fallon 1990–92 Industrial and Commercial Panel
G. V. Wright 1992–97 Nominated member of Seanad Éireann
Donie Cassidy 1997–2002 Labour Panel
Mary O'Rourke 2002–07 Nominated member of Seanad Éireann
Donie Cassidy 2007–11 Labour Panel
Darragh O'Brien 2011–present Labour Panel

General election results

Election Dáil Share of votes Seats Government
1927 (Jun) 5th 26.2%
44 / 153
Cumann na nGaedhael
1927 (Sep) 6th 35.2%
57 / 153
Cumann na nGaedhael
1932 7th 44.5%
72 / 153
Fianna Fáil
1933 8th 49.7%
76 / 153
Fianna Fáil
1937 9th 45.2%
68 / 138
Fianna Fáil
1938 10th 51.9%
76 / 138
Fianna Fáil
1943 11th 41.8%
66 / 138
Fianna Fáil
1944 12th 48.9%
75 / 138
Fianna Fáil
1948 13th 41.9%
67 / 147
Fine Gael–Labour Party–Clann na Poblachta–Clann na Talmhan–National Labour
1951 14th 46.3%
68 / 147
Fianna Fáil
1954 15th 43.4%
65 / 147
Fine Gael–Labour Party–Clann na Talmhan
1957 16th 48.3%
78 / 147
Fianna Fáil
1961 17th 43.8%
70 / 144
Fianna Fáil
1965 18th 47.7%
72 / 144
Fianna Fáil
1969 19th 44.6%
74 / 144
Fianna Fáil
1973 20th 46.2%
68 / 144
Fine Gael–Labour Party
1977 21st 50.6%
84 / 148
Fianna Fáil
1981 22nd 45.3%
77 / 166
Fine Gael–Labour Party
1982 (Feb) 23rd 47.3%
81 / 166
Fianna Fáil
1982 (Nov) 24th 45.2%
75 / 166
Fine Gael–Labour Party
1987 25th 44.2%
81 / 166
Fianna Fáil
1989 26th 44.2%
77 / 166
Fianna Fáil–Progressive Democrats
1992 27th 39.1%
68 / 166
Fianna Fáil–Labour Party (1993–94)
Fine Gael–Labour Party–Democratic Left (1994–97)[A]
1997 28th 39.3%
77 / 166
Fianna Fáil–Progressive Democrats
2002 29th 41.5%
81 / 166
Fianna Fáil–Progressive Democrats
2007 30th 41.6%
77 / 166
Fianna Fáil–Green Party–Progressive Democrats
2011 31st 17.4%
20 / 166
Fine Gael–Labour Party

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

Front bench

Ógra Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil's youth wing is called Ógra Fianna Fáil. Formed in 1975, it plays an active role in recruiting new members and supporting election campaigns. Ógra also plays an important role in the party organisation where it currently has five representatives on the Ard Chomhairle (National Executive).

Senator Thomas Byrne was the last nominated head or Cathaoirleach (Chairperson) of Ógra Fianna Fáil, before the youth wing introduced widespread oganisational reform following the heavy electoral defeat suffered by the whole party in 2011.

Fianna Fáil and Northern Politics

On 17 September 2007 Fianna Fáil announced that the party would, for the first time, organise in Northern Ireland.

The then Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern was asked to chair a committee on the matter: "In the period ahead Dermot Ahern will lead efforts to develop that strategy for carrying through this policy, examining timescales and structures. We will act gradually and strategically. We are under no illusions. It will not be easy. It will challenge us all. But I am confident we will succeed."[34]

The party embarked on its first ever recruitment drive north of the border in September 2007 in northern universities, and established two 'Political Societies', the William Drennan Cumann in Queens University, Belfast, and the Watty Graham Cumann in UU Magee, Derry, which subsequently became official units of Fianna Fáil's youth wing, attaining full membership and voting rights, and attained official voting delegates at the 2012 Árd Fheis.

Bertie Ahern announced on 7 December 2007 that Fianna Fáil had been registered in Northern Ireland by the UK Electoral Commission.[35] The Party's Ard Fheis in 2009 unanimously passed a motion to organise in Northern Ireland by establishing forums, rather than cumainn, in each of the North's six counties. In December 2009, Fianna Fáil secured its first Northern Assembly MLA when Mr. Gerry McHugh, an Independent MLA, announced he had joined the party.[36] Mr. McHugh confirmed that although he had joined the party, he would continue to sit as an independent MLA. In June 2010, Fianna Fáil opened its first official office in the North in Crossmaglen, Co. Armagh. The then Taoiseach Brian Cowen officially oepened the office, accompanied by Ministers Éamon Ó Cuív and Dermot Ahern and Deputies Rory O’Hanlon and Margaret Conlon. Discussing the party's slow development towards all-Ireland politics, Mr. Cowen observed: "We have a very open and pragmatic approach. We are a constitutional republican party and we make no secret of the aspirations on which this party was founded. It has always been very clear in our mind what it is we are seeking to achieve, that is to reconcile this country and not being prisoners of our past history. To be part of a generation that will build a new Ireland, an Ireland of which we can all be proud.".[37]

There has been speculation about an eventual merger with the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP),[38] formerly the main Irish nationalist party in the Northern Ireland, but now smaller than Sinn Féin. This has been met with a negative reaction with former Deputy Leader of the SDLP, Seamus Mallon, stating he would be opposed to any such merger. The former leader of the SDLP, Margaret Ritchie, has also stated publicly that she opposes any merger famously announcing to the Labour Party Conference that such a merger would not happen on her "watch". At the 2010 Irish Labour Party conference she further criticised Fianna Fáil's record in government and also the National Asset Management Agency[39] On 23 February 2008, it was announced that a former UUP councillor, Colonel Harvey Bicker, had joined Fianna Fáil.[40]

Fianna Fáil has registered with the UK Electoral Commission and is technically a recognised party in Northern Ireland.[41] However, it has not officially contested any elections in Northern Ireland. At the party's 2014 Ard Fheis, a motion was passed without debate to stand candidates for election north of the border for the first time in 2019.[42]

In European institutions

In the European Parliament from 1999 to 2009, Fianna Fáil was a leading member of Union for Europe of the Nations (UEN), a small national-conservative and Eurosceptic parliamentary group. European political commentators had often noted substantive ideological differences between the party and its colleagues, whose strongly conservative stances had at times prompted domestic criticism of Fianna Fáil. Fianna Fáil MEPs had previously been an attached to the European Progressive Democrats (1973–1984), European Democratic Alliance (1984–1995), and Union for Europe (1995–1999) groups before the creation of UEN.

Party headquarters, over the objections of some MEPs, had made several attempts to sever the party's links to the European right, including an aborted 2004 agreement to join the European Liberal Democrat and Reform (ELDR) Party, with whom it already sat in the Council of Europe under the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) banner. On 27 February 2009, Taoiseach Brian Cowen announced that Fianna Fáil proposed to join the ELDR Party and intended to sit with them in the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Group in the European Parliament after the 2009 European elections.[43] The change was made official on 17 April 2009, when FF joined the ELDR Party.

In October 2009, it was reported that Fianna Fáil had irritated its new Liberal colleagues by failing to vote for the motion on press freedom in Italy (resulting in its defeat by a majority of one in the Parliament) and by trying to scupper their party colleagues' initiative for gay rights.[44] In January 2010, a report by academic experts writing for the votewatch.eu site found that FF "do not seem to toe the political line" of the ALDE Group "when it comes to budget and civil liberties" issues.[45]

In the 2014 European elections, Fianna Fáil received 22.3% of first-preference votes but only returned a single MEP, a reduction in representation of two MEPs from the previous term. This was due to a combination of the party's vote further dropping in Dublin and a two candidate strategy in the Midlands North West constituency, which backfired, resulting in sitting MEP Pat the Cope Gallagher losing his seat.[46][47][48] On 23 June 2014, returning MEP Brian Crowley announced that he intended to sit with the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) rather than the ALDE group during the upcoming 8th term of the European parliament.[49] The following day on 24 June 2014 Crowley had the Fianna Fáil party whip withdrawn.[50]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Fianna Fail". UCD.ie. 16 May 1926. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  2. ^ Beesley, Arthur (24 April 2013). "Fianna Fáil faces pressure over abortion at weekend ardfheis". The Irish Times. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  3. ^ a b T. Banchoff (28 June 1999). Legitimacy and the European Union. Taylor & Francis. p. 127. ISBN 978-0-415-18188-4. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  4. ^ a b George A. Kourvetaris; Andreas Moschonas (1996). The Impact of European Integration: Political, Sociological, and Economic Changes. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 208. ISBN 978-0-275-95356-0. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  5. ^ a b Scanlan, Margaret (30 March 2006). Culture and Customs of Ireland. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 74. ISBN 978-0-313-33162-6. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  6. ^ a b Ian Budge; David Robertson; Derek Hearl (9 July 1987). Ideology, Strategy and Party Change: Spatial Analyses of Post-War Election Programmes in 19 Democracies. Cambridge University Press. p. 137. ISBN 978-0-521-30648-5. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  7. ^ Titley, Gavan (24 February 2011). "Beyond the yin and yang of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  8. ^ a b Burke-Kennedy, Eoin (24 January 2011). "Political turmoil grabs global headlines". The Irish Times.
  9. ^ a b "Enda Kenny hails 'democratic revolution' in Ireland". Christian Science Monitor. 27 February 2011.
  10. ^ a b Halligan, Liam (6 April 2008). "Will the credit crisis leave Ireland's economy all washed up?". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  11. ^ a b Titley, Gavan (24 February 2011). "Beyond the yin and yang of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil". The Guardian. London.
  12. ^ a b Smyth, Jamie (14 October 2011). "McGuinness battles to escape IRA past". The Financial Times.
  13. ^ a b Haughey, Nuala (28 November 2010). "Irish protest against austerity cuts". The National.
  14. ^ "Fianna Fáil: definition of Fianna Fáil in Oxford dictionary (British & World English). Meaning, pronunciation and origin of the word". Oxford Language Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013. {{cite web}}: |article= ignored (help)
  15. ^ "Constitution of Fianna Fáil". Fianna Fáil. Retrieved 8 December 2013. The Movement [Fianna Fáil] shall be organised and known as Fianna Fáil, The Republican Party, in accordance with the Rules annexed hereto
  16. ^ Hans Slomp (2011). Europe, a Political Profile: An American Companion to European Politics. ABC-CLIO. p. 333. ISBN 978-0-313-39181-1.
  17. ^ "History of Fianna Fáil | Fianna Fáil". Fiannafail.ie. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  18. ^ Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977). (advisory ed. Tomás de Bhaldraithe) (ed.). Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla (in Irish). Dublin: An Gúm. pp. 512, 540. ISBN 1-85791-037-0.
  19. ^ a b "Micheal Martin elected as eighth leader of Fianna Fáil". The Irish Times. 26 January 2011.
  20. ^ Cowen, Barry (26 May 2011). "Cowen Calls on Government to resist OECD right wing agenda". Fianna Fáil. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  21. ^ "Recapturing relevance a huge challenge for FF". The Irish Times. 1 May 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  22. ^ "Angry electorate coldly voted to liquidate Fianna Fáil". The Irish Times. 28 February 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  23. ^ www.liberal-international.org
  24. ^ Peter Mair and Liam Weeks, "The Party System," in Politics in the Republic of Ireland, ed. John Coakley and Michael Gallagher, 4th ed. (New York: Routledge, 2004), p. 140
  25. ^ Komito, Lee (1985). Politics and Clientelism in Urban Ireland: Information, reputation, and brokerage (Ph.D.). Ann Arbor, Michigan: University Microfilms International. 8603660. Retrieved 24 June 2013. The only exception was Neil Blaney in Donegal. Blaney had a very strong personal following in Donegal and, perhaps most importantly, was able to claim that it was everyone who remained in Fianna Fáil that had actually departed from party ideals. In nationalist Donegal, the claim that he represented the true Fianna Fáil seemed effective.
  26. ^ White, Michael (25 February 2011). "Irish general election turns into slanging match with parties divided". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
  27. ^ "Fianna Fáil has lost the local knowledge. The grassroots are not being listened to". The Irish Times. 27 August 2011.
  28. ^ Laver, Michael; Benoit, Kenneth (April 2003). "The Evolution of Party Systems Between Elections" (PDF). American Journal of Political Science. 47 (2): 215–233. doi:10.1111/1540-5907.00015. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  29. ^ Benoit, Kenneth; Laver, Michael (June 2003). "Estimating Irish Party Positions Using Computer Wordscoring: The 2002 Elections". Irish Political Studies. 18 (1): 97–107. doi:10.1080/07907180312331293249. CiteSeerx10.1.1.144.6558.
  30. ^ Benoit, Kenneth; Laver, Michael (Summer–Autumn 2005). "Mapping the Irish Policy Space: Voter and Party Spaces in Preferential Elections" (PDF). The Economic and Social Review. 36 (2): 83–108. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  31. ^ Gilland Lutz, Karin (Winter 2003). "Irish party competition in the new millennium: Change, or plus ça change?". Irish Political Studies. 18 (2): 40–59. doi:10.1080/1364298042000227640.
  32. ^ Byrne, Kevin; O'Malley, Eoin (November 2012). "Politics with Hidden Bases: unearthing party system's deep roots". British Journal of Politics and International Relations. 14 (4): 613–629. doi:10.1111/j.1467-856X.2011.00478.x.
  33. ^ "Our Party". Fianna Fáil website. 28 October 2013.
  34. ^ Ahern, Bertie (17 September 2007). "Speech by Bertie Ahern at a Fianna Fáil conference, (17 September 2007)". University of Ulster Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN) website. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  35. ^ "FF officially recognised in Northern Ireland". RTÉ. 7 December 2007. Retrieved 8 December 2007.
  36. ^ "Assembly Member Joins Fianna Fail". BBC News. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  37. ^ "Taoiseach opens Fianna Fáil Party Office in Crossmaglen". Crossmaglen Examiner. 27 June 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  38. ^ "Fianna Fáil 'will organise in NI'". bbc.co.uk. 17 September 2007. Retrieved 8 December 2007.
  39. ^ "Ritchie reiterates SDLP key objectives at Labour Party Conference". Sdlp.ie. Retrieved 22 November 2010.
  40. ^ "Fianna Fáil confirms UUP recruit". BBC News. 23 February 2008. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  41. ^ "Fianna Fáil accepted as NI party". BBC News. 7 December 2007. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  42. ^ Highland Radio – Latest Donegal News and Sport » Fianna Fail Ard Fheis passes two significant Donegal North East motions
  43. ^ "Full Text: Taoiseach Brian Cowen at the official Opening of 72nd Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis – Part 1", Fianna Fáil website, posted 27 February 2009
  44. ^ Willis, Andrew (29 October 2009). "Irish leader feeling the heat in EU liberal group". Euobserver.com. Retrieved 22 November 2010.
  45. ^ "Voting behaviour in the new European Parliament: the first six months, EP7, 1st Semester: July–December 2009" (PDF). Votewatch.eu.
  46. ^ Newstalk - Luke Ming Flanagan takes first seat in Midlands North West
  47. ^ Elections 2014 Midlands North West Constituency
  48. ^ Pat ‘The Cope’: Fianna Fáil’s European election strategy could be ‘dangerous’
  49. ^ Crowley angers FF by joining conservative group - RTÉ News
  50. ^ Fianna Fáil MEP loses whip for joining rightwing European parliament bloc | World news | theguardian.com

Further reading

  • Joe Ambrose (2006) Dan Breen and the IRA, Douglas Village, Cork : Mercier Press, 223 p., ISBN 1-85635-506-3
  • Bruce Arnold (2001) Jack Lynch: Hero in Crisis, Dublin : Merlin, 250p. ISBN 1-903582-06-7
  • Tim Pat Coogan (1993) De Valera : long fellow, long shadow, London : Hutchinson, 772 p., ISBN 0-09-175030-X
  • Joe Joyce and Peter Murtagh (1983) The Boss: Charles J. Haughey in government, Swords, Dublin : Poolbeg Press, 400 p., ISBN 0-905169-69-7
  • F.S.L. Lyons (1985) Ireland Since the Famine, 2nd rev. ed., London : FontanaPress, 800 p., ISBN 0-00-686005-2
  • Dorothy McCardle (1968) The Irish Republic. A documented chronicle of the Anglo-Irish conflict and the partitioning of Ireland, with a detailed account of the period 1916–1923, etc., 989 p., ISBN 0-552-07862-X
  • T. Ryle Dwyer (2001) Nice fellow : a biography of Jack Lynch, Cork : Mercier Press, 416 p., ISBN 1-85635-368-0
  • T. Ryle Dwyer (1999) Short fellow : a biography of Charles J. Haughey, Dublin : Marino, 477 p., ISBN 1-86023-100-4
  • T. Ryle Dwyer, (1997) Fallen Idol : Haughey's controversial career, Cork : Mercier Press, 191 p., ISBN 1-85635-202-1
  • Raymond Smith (1986) Haughey and O'Malley : The quest for power, Dublin : Aherlow, 295 p., ISBN 1-870138-00-7
  • Tim Ryan (1994) Albert Reynolds : the Longford leader : the unauthorised biography, Dublin : Blackwater Press, 226 p., ISBN 0-86121-549-4
  • Dick Walsh (1986) The Party: Inside Fianna Fáil, Dublin : Gill & Macmillan, 161 p., ISBN 0-7171-1446-5

External links