Fine Gael facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fine Gael
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|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Leader | Simon Harris |
| General Secretary | John Carroll |
| Deputy leader | Helen McEntee |
| Chairperson | Alan Farrell |
| Seanad leader | Seán Kyne |
| Founders | |
| Founded | 8 September 1933 |
| Merger of |
|
| Headquarters | 51 Mount Street Upper, Dublin, Ireland |
| Youth wing | Young Fine Gael |
| LGBT wing | Fine Gael LGBT |
| Membership (2020) |  25,000 |
| Ideology |
|
| Political position | Centre-right |
| European affiliation | European People's Party |
| International affiliation | Centrist Democrat International |
| European Parliament group | European People's Party Group |
| Colours |
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| Dáil Éireann |
38 / 174
|
| Seanad Éireann |
11 / 60
|
| European Parliament |
4 / 14
|
| Local government |
246 / 949
|
Fine Gael ( feen-NƏ--_-gayl-,_-fin; lit. Family (or Tribe) of the Irish) is a centre-right, liberal-conservative, Christian democratic political party in Ireland. Fine Gael is currently the third-largest party in the Republic of Ireland in terms of members of Dáil Éireann. The party had a membership of 25,000 in 2021. Simon Harris succeeded Leo Varadkar as party leader on 24 March 2024.
Fine Gael was founded on 8 September 1933, 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. In its early years, the party was commonly known as Fine Gael – The United Ireland Party, abbreviated UIP, and its official title in its constitution remains Fine Gael (United Ireland).
Fine Gael holds a pro-European stance and is generally considered to be more of a proponent of economic liberalism than its traditional rival, Fianna Fáil. Fine Gael describes itself as a "party of the progressive centre" which it defines as acting "in a way that is right for Ireland, regardless of dogma or ideology". It lists its core values as "equality of opportunity, free enterprise and reward, security, integrity and hope." In international politics, the party is highly supportive of the European Union, along with generally supporting strengthened relations with the United Kingdom and opposition to 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.
Images for kids
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Garret FitzGerald was credited as having a liberalising effect on the party in the 1980s
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Leo Varadkar, Leader of Fine Gael since 2017
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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
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See also
In Spanish: Fine Gael para niños
