Getting ready for arguments about politics at home over the Christmas? Wondering about how you’ll explain Irish politics to visiting foreign relatives? A bit confused yourself, even?
Look no further than our informed sceptic’s guide to Irish politics. It’s your roadmap to the state of the parties after a helter-skelter year and a topsy-turvy election.
Fianna Fáil (not to be confused with Fine Gael)
Ireland’s most successful party, with the largest share of the vote at the recent general election, the largest number of seats in the new Dáil, the most craic at its ardfheis, and soon to return to the taoiseach’s office. Has run the country for most of its existence. After a brief period of disfavour when the economy went over a cliff more than a decade ago and the nation was impoverished, current leader Micheál Martin tiptoed and apologised his way back to political acceptability.
Martin has also tiptoed away from social conservatism and from the misty-eyed green republicanism that infused the party for most of its existence. He is Ireland’s most successful tiptoe-er (the tip top tiptoe-er), by a distance. Likes: “substance”. Dislikes: opinion polls, Sinn Féin.
Pat Leahy: The informed sceptic’s guide to Irish politics
Smart people still insist the truth of a patent absurdity – that Gerry Adams was never in the IRA
Ireland’s five biggest problems: War, climate change, an EU crisis, housing and Trump
Someone should take Simon Harris’s phone away before he bankrupts the country
Fine Gael (not to be confused with Fianna Fáil)
Took over from Fianna Fáil as Ireland’s most successful party for a while, but then handed back the number one spot. Fancies itself as the party that “built the State” and “cleans up after Fianna Fáil”; evidence for both is mixed. Heading for a fourth term in government – not bad for a party that invariably runs entertainingly terrible election campaigns. Loves: a good leadership heave. Don’t say: “Where’s the new energy?” Do say: “The centre is holding.”
Sinn Féin
Ireland’s only 32-county party, apart from the Greens and People Before Profit. In power in Northern Ireland, but not responsible for any of the bad things there, which are the fault of “the Tories”. Former political wing of the IRA. Previously were political pariahs because of support for violence. Now just pariahs to Micheál Martin (see “Fianna Fáil” above). Moved to the centre in recent years in anticipation of government. Didn’t work. Now moving back leftwards. Loves the idea of a united Ireland, preferably without unionists, the Free State Establishment and other inconveniences. Don’t say: “Has anyone seen Say Nothing?” Do say: “We are the party of change.”
Labour
Once the half in Ireland’s two-and-a-half party system, Labour’s traditional role was to help Fine Gael form governments during brief periods when Fianna Fáil was in opposition. Enjoys periodic surges of support (the Spring Tide, the Gilmore Gale, the Bacik Breeze), but they never last. Currently wondering how it can avoid government and still look responsible. Would love to merge with the Social Democrats – by which it means really take them over – but also hates the Social Democrats. Prefers Fianna Fáil to Fine Gael, if it’s honest. Really hates the Shinners. Loves a good dinner party.
Social Democrats
Retiring founders Catherine Murphy and Róisín Shortall have transmitted their antipathy to Labour into the party’s DNA. The Soc Dems hate being asked about a possible merger, so journalists ask all the time. Won loads of young votes at the election, and poised for further growth, so won’t go near government. Ideal outlook would be if Labour went into government and leader Holly Cairns had another baby during the next election. Chucked out one of its new TDs when he lied about shares in a company linked to Israeli military – after he took the seat of the Dáil’s most pro-Palestine TD. Don’t say: “What’s the difference between the Soc Dems and Labour anyway?” Do say: “I got so totally into politics during the repeal referendum”.
Greens
Lost all but one seat at the election, punished by voters for trying to do something about climate change. That’s all there is to say, really. Came back from the dead before. Might do it again. Might not.
People Before Profit
Ireland’s far-left fringe, or at least that part of it which makes it as far as the Dáil – partly because their TDs have learned that voters expect work on the ground in preference to the global socialist revolution. No government, even without Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, is likely to be sufficiently left wing for them to join. In any case, they suggested last year that a left-wing government in Ireland would be overthrown by a right-wing military coup. Hates: the international capitalist military industrial complex, Israel, the CIA, the EU, Michael O’Leary. Loves: a good protest.
Aontú
Founded by ex-Sinn Féin TD Peadar Tóibín after he left the party over its support for legalising abortion in 2018, the party doubled its seats (to two) at the election and, crucially, passed the threshold of 2 per cent for State funding. Takes a tough line on immigration, abortion and all that oul’ climate stuff. Reckons Fianna Fáil is an “empty hollow husk” it would be easy to dominate in Government. Well, not yet: Fianna Fáil has 24 times as many seats. Talks a lot about “common sense”.
Independent Ireland
Founded by three Independent TDs before the election and returned with four. Insist they will have a whip – but will they really? – and are mad keen for government. Also not keen on immigration, the “Dublin mindset”, climate stuff. Also talk a lot about “common sense”.
Independents/Others
Where to start? Includes TDs from the left and right and all points between. Many promise to look out for their constituency, and sure lookit, someone else can mind the country. Some are very enthusiastic about government. Others have little interest. Many were previously members of parties, but fell out with them. Not always the party’s fault, either.
The persistent strength of Independent candidates is one of the peculiarities of Irish politics. Fair to say, it’s not the only one.
Politics Alerts
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/ML3UCQJ7NFC6RPNPKVSDIBKVKI.jpeg)
Sign up for push notifications on your phone to stay connected with our Politics coverage
