There are a number of political parties in Ireland, and coalition governments are common. The two historically largest parties, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, arose from a split in the original Sinn Féin. Fine Gael is the successor of Cumann na nGaedheal, the faction that supported the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty, while Fianna Fáil arose from members of the anti-Treaty faction who opposed Sinn Féin's abstensionism. The division on the Treaty had also caused the Irish Civil War (1922–1923), leading to the difference between the parties being described as "Civil War politics", to distinguish it from a more common left-right political divide. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael together are sometimes pejoratively referred to as "FFG".[1][2]
As of 2023[update], Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin jointly have the greatest representation in Dáil Éireann, followed closely by Fine Gael in third position. The Green Party surpassed the Labour Party in 2020. The Labour Party was formed in 1912, and it had usually been the third party in parliamentary strength, though it is currently the fifth largest party in the Dáil, followed closely by the Social Democrats.
The Electoral Commission maintains a Register of Political Parties under the Electoral Reform Act 2022.[3] Before the establishment of the Commission 2023, the register was maintained by the Houses of the Oireachtas.[4] To register to contest national elections a party must have either at least one member in Dáil Éireann or the European Parliament, or 300 recorded members aged 18 or over. Parties that register only to contest elections in part of the state or in local elections need only 100 recorded members aged 18 or over. In either case, at least half of the recorded members must be on the register of electors.[5]
Political parties with representation at a local, national or European level
editParty details
editParty representation
edit| Party | Representation (as of Nov. 2024) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oireachtas | European Parliament | Local councils | ||||
| Dáil Éireann | Seanad Éireann | |||||
| Fianna Fáil | 35 / 160
|
20 / 60
|
4 / 14
|
246 / 949
| ||
| Sinn Féin[d] | 33 / 160
|
2 / 60
|
2 / 14
|
101 / 949
| ||
| Fine Gael | 32 / 160
|
16 / 60
|
4 / 14
|
246 / 949
| ||
| Green[e] | 12 / 160
|
5 / 60
|
0 / 14
|
23 / 949
| ||
| Labour | 6 / 160
|
4 / 60
|
1 / 14
|
57 / 949
| ||
| Social Democrats | 6 / 160
|
0 / 60
|
0 / 14
|
34 / 949
| ||
| PBP–Solidarity[f] | 5 / 160
|
0 / 60
|
0 / 14
|
13 / 949
| ||
| Independent Ireland | 3 / 160
|
0 / 60
|
1 / 14
|
23 / 949
| ||
| Aontú | 1 / 160
|
0 / 60
|
0 / 14
|
8 / 949
| ||
| Right to Change | 1 / 160
|
0 / 60
|
0 / 14
|
1 / 949
| ||
| 100% Redress | 0 / 160
|
0 / 60
|
0 / 14
|
4 / 949
| ||
| Inds. 4 Change | 0 / 160
|
0 / 60
|
0 / 14
|
1 / 949
| ||
| Irish Freedom | 0 / 160
|
0 / 60
|
0 / 14
|
1 / 949
| ||
| Kerry Ind. Alliance | 0 / 160
|
0 / 60
|
0 / 14
|
1 / 949
| ||
| National Party | 0 / 160
|
0 / 60
|
0 / 14
|
1 / 949
| ||
| Workers and Unemployed | 0 / 160
|
0 / 60
|
0 / 14
|
1 / 949
| ||
| Republican Sinn Féin[g] | 0 / 160
|
0 / 60
|
0 / 14
|
1 / 949
| ||
| Independent Left[g] | 0 / 160
|
0 / 60
|
0 / 14
|
1 / 949
| ||
Parties and groupings represented in the Oireachtas
editFianna Fáil
editFianna Fáil is the joint largest party in the Dáil, has the joint largest delegation of MEPs from Ireland, and has the largest number of city and county council seats. It has been in government more than any other party: 1932–1948, 1951–1954, 1957–1973, 1977–1981, 1982, 1987–1994, and 1997–2011, and since 2020. On all occasions up to 1989, it was in a single-party government; on all occasions since then it was the leading party in a coalition government. It is a member of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party and is led by Tánaiste Micheál Martin.
It was founded in 1926 by Éamon de Valera in a split from Sinn Féin. When Sinn Féin refused to drop its abstentionist stand, de Valera led most of its TDs out of that party with a view toward republicanising the Free State from within. It was founded as a radical anti-Treaty party drawing support from small farmers and urban workers but has since become a party of the establishment. It was first elected to power in 1932 on a constitutional republican platform, promising to remove constitutional links with Britain and reduce poverty by creating employment. It oversaw much of the industrial development of the Republic and has consequently drawn support from all social classes, making it a classic populist party.[6][7][8]
Fianna Fáil has 35 TDs, 20 Senators, four MEPs and 246 councillors.
Sinn Féin
editSinn Féin is the joint largest party in the Dáil and the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly. The name Sinn Féin, meaning "ourselves" or "we ourselves", has been used by a number of political organisations in Ireland since 1905, when first used by Arthur Griffith. Sinn Féin was the party of separatism before Irish independence, and broke through in the Westminster election of 1918, where it won 73 of the 105 Irish seats.
The modern-day Sinn Féin party emerged in 1970 after a split in the party, and was often distinguished as Provisional Sinn Féin. It was closely linked to the Provisional Irish Republican Army. It is led by Mary Lou McDonald.
Sinn Féin has 33 TDs, two Senators, two MEPs and 101 councillors in the Republic of Ireland.
Fine Gael
editFine Gael is the third largest party in the Dáil, the second largest party in local government in Ireland and has joint largest delegation of MEPs from Ireland. It was founded in 1933 by a merger of Cumann na nGaedheal, which had supported the Treaty and formed the government between 1922 and 1932, the National Guard (popularly called the Blueshirts) and the small National Centre Party. It is a member of the centre-right European People's Party and is led by Taoiseach Simon Harris. Counting the tenure of predecessor Cumann na nGaedheal, Fine Gael has been in government in the periods 1922–1932, 1948–1951, 1954–1957, 1973–1977, 1981–1982, 1982–1987, 1994–1997, and 2011 to date. On each occasion from 1948 until 2016, it was the leading party of a coalition with the Labour Party, and in three of those cases also with other smaller parties. At the 2011 general election, Fine Gael became the largest party in the Oireachtas with 36.1% of the vote.
Fine Gael has 32 TDs, 15 Senators, four MEPs and 246 councillors.
Green Party
editThe Green Party was established in 1981 and is allied to the European Green Party. The Green Party Northern Ireland voted in 2005 to become a region of the Irish Green Party, making it the second party to be organised on an all-Ireland basis. It has Northern Ireland members on the Irish Green Party national executive.
In June 2007, the Green Party entered coalition government with Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats. In January 2011 they left the coalition, and at the 2011 general election, lost all of their Dáil seats.[9] Since 2020, it has been in a coalition government with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
In the 2020 election, they became the fourth party in parliamentary strength. The Green Party has 12 TDs, five Senators and 23 councillors.[9]
Labour Party
editThe Labour Party is a social democratic party, founded in 1912 as part of the trade union movement, with which it maintains organisational links. For most of the history of the state, it was the third largest party, though it is currently in fifth position in parliamentary strength.
It has been in government in the periods 1948–1951, 1954–1957, 1973–1977, 1981–1982, 1982–1987, 1993–1994, 1994–1997, and 2011–2016. On each occasion, it was in coalition with Fine Gael, with the exception 1993 to 1994, when it was in coalition with Fianna Fáil. The Labour Party merged with the smaller Democratic Left party in 1999. It is a member of the Party of European Socialists, and is led by Ivana Bacik.
The Labour Party has six TDs, four Senators, one MEP and 57 councillors.
Social Democrats
editThe Social Democrats were founded in July 2015 by three independent TDs Catherine Murphy, Róisín Shortall, and Stephen Donnelly (who has since left the party for Fianna Fáil). It is led by Holly Cairns. The Social Democrats have six TDs and 34 councillors.
People Before Profit–Solidarity
editPeople Before Profit–Solidarity is an electoral alliance between People Before Profit (PBP), Solidarity and the Socialist Party.[10] In October 2015, they formed a new alliance for electoral purposes, but continue to organise separately.[11]
Together they have five TDs (four from PBP, one from Solidarity) and 13 councillors (ten from PBP, three from Solidarity).
Independent Ireland
editIndependent Ireland was registered in November 2023 and was founded by two TDs, Michael Collins and Richard O'Donoghue, both members of the Rural Independents Dáil grouping.[12] It has three TDs, one MEP and 23 councillors.
Aontú
editAontú is an all-Ireland republican party with a left-wing economic stance and a conservative social position. It was founded in 2019 by Peadar Tóibín who left Sinn Féin because of its support for the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018. It has one TD and eight councillors in the Republic of Ireland.
Right to Change
editRight to Change was founded in May 2020. It has one TD, Joan Collins,[13] and one councillor.[14]
Human Dignity Alliance
editThe Human Dignity Alliance (HDA) was founded by Senator Rónán Mullen in June 2018. HDA has one senator.
Parties represented only on local authorities
edit100% Redress
edit100% Redress was founded in County Donegal in 2023, campaigning on the Irish defective block crisis.[15][16] It has four councillors on Donegal County Council.[17]
Independents 4 Change
editIndependents 4 Change has been registered as a political party since 2014. Its registered officer is Mick Wallace. It has one councillor on Fingal County Council.
Workers and Unemployed Action
editWorkers and Unemployed Action (WUA) is a left-wing political organisation formed in 1985 by Séamus Healy. At the 2011 election, the WUA formed part of the United Left Alliance, but it left in 2012.[18][19] WUA has one councillor on Tipperary County Council.
Kerry Independent Alliance
editThe Kerry Independent Alliance (previously the South Kerry Independent Alliance) have one councillor on Kerry County Council. It is registered to contest elections for Dáil Éireann and in Killarney for local elections.
Republican Sinn Féin
editRepublican Sinn Féin were formed in 1986 by members of Sinn Féin who did not support the decision made at the party's ard fheis in that year to end its policy of abstentionism and to allow elected Sinn Féin TDs take their seats in Dáil Éireann.[20] They have one councillor, Tomás Ó Curraoin on Galway County Council. As the party is not registered, he is officially an independent councillor.
Independent Left
editIndependent Left have one councillor, former PBP member John Lyons, on Dublin City Council.[21] As the party is not registered, he is officially an independent councillor.
National Party
editThe National Party is a minor far-right party founded in 2016. It has one councillor on Fingal County Council.[22]
Irish Freedom Party
editThe Irish Freedom Party is a minor far-right and Eurosceptic party founded in 2018. It has one councillor on South Dublin County Council.[23]
Parties with no elected representation
edit| Party | Leader | Ideology | Position | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centre Party (formerly Renua) | Andrew Kelly | Anti-abortion | Right-wing to far-right | |
| Communist | Ciara Ní Mhaoilfhinn | Communism | Far-left | |
| Éirígí | Brian Leeson | Irish republicanism | Far-left | |
| Farmers' Alliance | Liam McLaughlin | Agrarianism | ||
| Fís Nua | None | Green politics | Left-wing | |
| Glór[24][h] | Diarmaid Ó Cadhla | N/A | ||
| Ireland First[i] | Derek Blighe | Anti-immigration[27] | Far-right | |
| The Irish People[j] | Anti-immigration[28] | Far-right | ||
| Irish Republican Socialist[g] | Ard chomhairle | Irish republicanism | Far-left | |
| Liberty Republic | Ben Gilroy | Anti-immigration | Far-right | |
| Party for Animal Welfare | Carol Johnson | Animal welfare | N/A | |
| Rabharta | Lorna Bogue | Eco-socialism | Left-wing | |
| Saoradh[g] | Brian Kenna | Irish republicanism | Far-left | |
| United People[k] | Jeffrey Rudd | N/A | ||
| Workers' Party | Michael McCorry | Marxism–Leninism | Far-left | |
Former parties
editSee also
editNotes
edit- ^ For the first twenty years of its existence, the Green Party did not have a national leader. Trevor Sargent was elected as the first national leader in 2001.
- ^ The Workers' Party emerged as the majority faction from a split in Sinn Féin in 1970, becoming known as Official Sinn Féin. In the Republic of Ireland, it renamed itself as Sinn Féin The Workers' Party in 1977. In Northern Ireland, it continued with the Republican Clubs name used by Sinn Féin to escape a 1964 ban, and later as Workers Party Republican Clubs. Both sections adopted the current name in 1982.
- ^ Republican Sinn Féin split from Sinn Féin in 1986 over the policy of abstentionism.
- ^ Sinn Féin also has 7 members of the UK House of Commons, 27 members of the Northern Ireland Assembly, 144 local councillors in Northern Ireland.
- ^ The Green Party also has 5 local councillors in Northern Ireland
- ^ People Before Profit also has 1 member of the Northern Ireland Assembly and 2 local councillors in Northern Ireland
- ^ a b c d Unregistered party
- ^ Originally registered as the Housing Rights and Reform Alliance; renamed the Reform Alliance in November 2021;[25] renamed Glór – Voice of the People in November 2023[26]
- ^ Member party of National Alliance
- ^ Member party of National Alliance
- ^ Split from Direct Democracy Ireland in 2015
References
edit- ^ Yates, Ivan (6 February 2020). "Wipeout on the cards for Fine Gael and contagion will impact Fianna Fail". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
- ^ McCarthy, Justine; O'Brien, Stephen (19 April 2020). "The war is over between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail". The Times (of London). Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
- ^ "Registration of Political Parties". Electoral Commission.
- ^ "Publications". Houses of the Oireachtas. Archived from the original on 28 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
- ^ "Registering a political party in Ireland". Citizens' Information Board. 16 March 2009. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
- ^ Curran, Catherine (1996). "Fianna Fáil and the Origins of the Irish Press" (PDF). Irish Communications Review. 6: 7. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 December 2016. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
- ^ Hayward, Katy; Murphy, Mary C., eds. (2013). "Ireland's EU Referendum Experience". The Europeanization of Party Politics in Ireland, North and South. Routledge. p. 26. ISBN 9780955820373.
- ^ Patterson, Henry (1988). "Fianna Fáil and the Working Class: The Origins of the Enigmatic Relationship". Saothar. 13. Irish Labour History Society: 81–88. JSTOR 23196031.
- ^ a b O'Halloran, Marie (28 February 2011). "Regroup and rebuild is already the Green mantra after election wipeout". The Irish Times. p. 13. Archived from the original on 12 March 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
- ^ "Paul Murphy's party joins forces with People Before Profit". Irish Examiner. 1 March 2021. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ^ "AAA and PBP join to form new 'left of Labour' party". The Irish Times. 8 October 2015. Archived from the original on 12 October 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
- ^ McGee, Harry (10 November 2023). "New Independent Ireland party registered with Electoral Commission". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 19 November 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ McCarthy, Justine (31 May 2020). "Dublin TD Joan Collins leaves I4C to found new party Right to Change". The Times.
- ^ "Local elections 2024: Who now holds the cards in the councils of Ireland?". independent.ie. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ Horgan-Jones, Jack (15 September 2023). "100% Redress Party is expected to field candidates in 2024 local elections". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ "New Political Party Registered to Stand Candidates". Electoral Commission. 15 September 2023. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ Ryan, Emma (11 June 2024). "Local Elections 2024 Donegal: 'The work starts now' – The 100% Redress party gear up for action". independent.ie. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ Minihan, Mary (28 February 2011). "Higgins pledges to build new party of left as five elected under ULA banner". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 5 March 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
- ^ "Seamus Healy withdraws from United Left Alliance over Wallace frustrations". RTÉ News. 2 October 2012. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
- ^ Melaugh, Dr Martin. "Issues: Abstentionism: Sinn Fein Ard Fheis 1-2 November 1986 - Details of Source Material". CAIN. Archived from the original on 6 August 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ^ "Independent Left". Archived from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
- ^ Wall, Martin (10 June 2024). "Fingal County Council results: Bruising weekend for Greens and Sinn Féin". Irish Times. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ McTaggart, Maeve (12 June 2024). "'Send them home' and 'Irexit' – newly elected anti-immigration candidates react to wins with far-right messages". Irish Independent. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
the Irish Freedom Party also elected its first ever councillor when Glen Moore won a seat in Palmerstown-Fonthill
- ^ "Register of Political Parties" (PDF). Electoral Commission. 8 February 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ "Register of Political Parties" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2021 (94): 1316. 23 November 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 June 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ "Registration of Political Parties" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2023 (90): 1423. 10 November 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ McDermott, Stephen (29 January 2024). "Three new anti-immigrant parties have registered to stand in Irish elections – but who are they?". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
- ^ McDermott, Stephen (29 January 2024). "Three new anti-immigrant parties have registered to stand in Irish elections – but who are they?". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.