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Fine Gael facts for kids

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Fine Gael
Leader TBD
Deputy Leader Simon Coveney
Chairman Alan Dillon
Seanad Leader Regina Doherty
Founders
Founded 8 September 1933; 90 years ago (1933-09-08)
Merger of
  • Cumann na nGaedheal
  • Blueshirts
  • National Centre Party
Headquarters 51 Mount Street Upper, Dublin, Ireland
Youth wing Young Fine Gael
LGBT wing Fine Gael LGBT
Membership (2020) Decrease 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      Blue
Dáil Éireann
34 / 160
Seanad Éireann
16 / 60
European Parliament
5 / 13
Local government
254 / 949

Fine Gael ( English: "Family (or Tribe) of the Irish") is a liberal-conservative and 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 and largest in terms of Irish members of the European Parliament. The party had a membership of 25,000 in 2021. Leo Varadkar succeeded Enda Kenny as party leader on 2 June 2017 and as Taoiseach on 14 June before stepping down on 20 March 2024; Kenny had been leader since 2002, and Taoiseach since 2011.

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 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.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Fine Gael para niños

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