List of political parties in the Republic of Ireland
Encyclopedia
There are a number of political parties
in the Republic of Ireland
, and coalition government
s are common. The state is unusual as a developed nation in that politics is not primarily characterised by the left-right political divide. This is because the two historically largest political parties Fianna Fáil
and Fine Gael
do not identify themselves first and foremost as either centre-right or centre-left parties. Rather, both parties arose from the great split that occurred in Irish politics at the time of the 1922–1923 Civil War
, that followed the foundation of the state. Both descended from factions of the original Sinn Féin
party: Fine Gael from the faction that supported the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty
and Fianna Fáil from the anti-Treaty faction. This enduring characteristic of the Irish party system is sometimes pejoratively referred to as "Civil War politics".
is the largest party in the Oireachtas and is the largest party in local government in Ireland and has more MEPs than any other Irish party. It was founded in 1933 by a merger of the pro-Treaty Cumann na nGaedheal, the National Guard (popularly called the 'Blueshirts') and the small National Centre Party
. While historically Fine Gael has often been viewed as a centre-right party, supported by large farmers and businessmen, this characterisation is perhaps simplistic. For a period in the 1960s, for example, with the publication of the famous Just Society document, Fine Gael identified with the values of social democracy
. Furthermore, during the 1980s, Fine Gael leader Garret FitzGerald
advocated the liberal agenda. It is now a member of the conservative, Christian Democratic, European People's Party
. Historically Fine Gael has tended to support fiscal restraint and law and order domestically while adopting a less nationalist position on Northern Ireland
than Fianna Fáil. It has formed government in the periods 1922–1932 (Cumman na nGaedhael), 1948–1951, 1954–1957, 1973–1977, 1981–82, 1982–1987, 1994–1997, and 2011 to date. It has been supported in coalition on all occasions since 1948, by the Labour party, and in three of those cases with other smaller groups.
The 2011 general election saw Fine Gael becoming the largest party in the Oireachtas with 36.1% of the vote. Their policies now seem to emphasis a more definitive stance by Fine Gael on upholding centre-right positions on most economic and social matters.
As of May 2011, Fine Gael is represented by 76 TD
s, 19 Senators, 4 MEP
s and 468 councillors nationally.
side of the Republic's politics is largely represented by the Labour Party
which is the state's second largest political party and has participated in coalition governments with each of the two largest parties over the years, primarily under Fine Gael
's leadership. It was in coalition with Fianna Fáil from 1992 to 1994. Founded in 1912 by James Connolly
as a trade union movement, until 1927 the party was the main opposition party in the Dáil.
Hoping to create a stronger left-wing force, the Labour Party merged with the smaller Democratic Left
party in 1999 but this has not had as much impact as was hoped. The party's previous leader, Pat Rabbitte
(a former Democratic Left member), had expressed a strong preference for coalition with Fine Gael over Fianna Fáil.
The situation has changed owing to the relatively inconclusive result of the 2007 general election. The current leader, Eamon Gilmore
(also a former Democratic Left member) has expressed his desire to build the Labour Party nationally to become the size of a main opposition party in locally and in Seanad
and Dáil seats rather than "the half size party electorally compared to the other 2 main parties Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael". He has expressed a desire for an independent election platform rather than preference for coalition with Fine Gael which was the case under the previous leader Pat Rabbitte. Eamon Gilmore has also said that he intended to take the Labour Party into the next election with the aim of becoming the largest party in the Dáil and to lead the resulting government.
As of May 2011, the Labour Party is represented by 37 TD
s, 12 Senators, 3 MEP
s, and 192 councillors nationally. It is the largest party on both Dublin and Galway city councils and South Dublin and Fingal County Councils.
is the third largest party in the Oireachtas
(parliament) and the second largest as regards to total local council seats. It is republican
in outlook, rejects (as current FF leader Míchéal Martin has made reference to) the political labels of "Left Wing" and "Right Wing" and prefers to occupy the pragmatic centre ground. It was founded in 1926 by Éamon de Valera
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 destroy 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. Generally speaking, Fianna Fáil has always taken more populist positions on economic and social matters than their rivals Fine Gael and Labour. Their classic populist stance was highlighted during the years of Catholic dominance in Ireland before the mid 1980s and during the Celtic Tiger years when it dangerously engaged in the spending levels of a more left wing party while deregulating and cutting taxes from a more right wing perspective. Some argue that Fianna Fáil has traditionally been so successful as a political party as it seems to represent more of a national movement rather than the traditional left-right zeal of the more politically unsuccessful parties in Irish politics. Comparisons have been drawn to Fianna Fáil as always acting, since its inception, as a mirror image of the UK's New Labour Party in the 1990s- emphasising the need to appeal to the urban working classes while maintaining the image of economic and capitalistic competence. One Fianna Fáil member is often referred to as saying, "Fine Gael have their people, Labour have their people but Fianna Fáil, we're for all the people".
Bertie Ahern
was the Taoiseach
(prime minister) from 1997 to 2008. His long-standing popularity is often attributed to his 'man of the people' persona and his considerable negotiating skill, having negotiated numerous social partnership
contracts, the Belfast Agreement
in Northern Ireland, and an agreement among EU heads of government on the European Constitution. He was succeeded by Brian Cowen
in May 2008. Brian Cowen resigned on January 22nd 2011.
In September 2007, Fianna Fáil announced that they would organise politically in the north. It is thought this may lead to a merger with the north's Social Democratic and Labour Party
, however this idea has been dismissed by the current leader of the SDLP.
Due in part to the Irish economic downturn, Fianna Fáil saw more than three quaters of its sitting TDs lose their seat in the 2011 general election, coming third behind Fine Gael and the Labour Party.
As of June 2011, Fianna Fáil is represented by 19 TD
s, 14 Senators
, 3 MEP
s, and 218. councillors nationally.
has been applied to a series of political movements since 1905 in Ireland, each of which claim or claimed sole descent from the original party established by Arthur Griffith
in 1905. The largest of the modern-day Sinn Féin parties was closely linked to the Provisional Irish Republican Army
and was the only political party to have seats in the parliaments of both Northern Ireland
and the Republic of Ireland
until the Green Party organised on an island-wide basis. Since supporting the Peace Process
Sinn Féin has seen a dramatic increase in support in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland. It has emerged as the second largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly
with 28 seats out of 108 and the fifth largest in the Republic of Ireland with 4 seats in the Dáil in the 2007 general election). Sinn Féin's platform is primarily focused on achieving the reunification of Ireland
and a large scale expansion of Ireland's social services (such as adopting a universal health care system and creating subsidised housing), reform of the tax system and support for small and co-operative businesses. Their political ideology mainly revolves around democratic socialism
, Irish Republicanism
, and Civic Nationalism
.
As of April 2011, Sinn Féin is represented in the Republic of Ireland by 14 TD
s, 3 Senators and 127 councillors.
was formed by the Socialist Party
, the People Before Profit Alliance
and the Workers and Unemployed Action Group. The alliance won 5 seats (two SP, two PBPA and one WUAG)
was formed in 1996 by far left former members of the Labour Party. It is a Marxist political party in the Trotskyist tradition and is organised in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Socialist Party was previously named the Militant Tendency of the Labour Party but was expelled in the late 1980s. Joe Higgins
was its sole member of Dáil Éireann representing Dublin West between 1997 and 2007, and in 2009 was elected to the European Parliament
. The party is affiliated to the Committee for a Workers' International
(CWI).
As of April 2011, the Socialist Party is represented by 2 TDs, 6 councillors and 1 MEP.
(PBPA) was formed in 2005 by the Socialist Workers Party
, subsequently absorbing the Crumlin based Community & Workers Action Group led by Joan Collins
in 2007. It is a broad left alliance that seeks to gather support against neoliberalism and war, and pursues other left-wing issues. The alliance succeeded in having five councillors elected in 2009
.
As of April 2011, the PBPA is represented by two TDs and five councillors.
in response to lack of employment and the economic situation in the South Tipperary area. Healy along with his brother Paddy Healy, were former members of the Trotskyist League for a Workers Republic
. Healy was elected to Dáil Éireann at a by-election in 2000, holding the seat until 2007. For the 2011 general election the WUAG formed the United Left Alliance
along with the Socialist Party and the People Before Profit Alliance. The alliance won 5 seats, with Healy becoming TD for Tipperary South
.
As of April 2011, the WUAG is represented by one TD and five councillors.
(the lower house of parliament) also often has independent TDs
(deputies) as members, who play an important role in Irish politics and are sometimes called upon to support minority governments or governments with slim majorities. They are usually elected on left-wing platforms or on local issues alone.
As of May 2011, independents comprise 14 TD
s, 12 senators, 1 MEP
and over 200 councillors nationally.
was established in 1981 and is allied to the European Green Party
. It won its first seat in the Dáil in 1989, and continued to represented there until 2011. The party advocates ecologically sound and socially liberal policies. In 1994 and again in 1999, two of Ireland's 15 MEP
s were from the Green party, but both seats were lost in 2004.
The Green Party of 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 into coalition government with Fianna Fáil
and the Progressive Democrats
in the Republic of Ireland. In January 2011 they left the coalition, and in the general election in February of that year, lost all of their Dáil seats.
As of April 2011, the Green Party is represented by 3 county councillors and 13 town councillors.
is a Marxist-Leninist party allied with the international workers and communist parties. It emerged from the Irish republican movement and from the original Sinn Féin but the name was changed to the Workers' Party in 1982. It is organised in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. During the 1980s it was a significant party on the political scene with 7 TDs elected in 1989 and 1 MEP. However the party was tainted with associations with the Official IRA
. A special Ard Fheis (conference) in 1992 designed to re-constitute the party and remove links with the OIRA resulted in a formal split with the bulk of the parliamentary party and councillors leaving to form Democratic Left
. Democratic Left voted to merge with the Labour Party in 1999. The Workers' Party currently has 2 councillors, Ted Tynan
on Cork City Council
and Davy Walsh on Waterford City Council
.
was first founded in 1921, and re-founded in 1933; the current communist party originates from 1970, when the Communist Party of Northern Ireland joined with the Irish Workers Party (not related to the current Workers Party). While a registered political party, it has not stood candidates in recent elections, and remains quite small. It was historically quite influential in the trade union movement.
, or 300 recorded members aged 18 or over. Parties that register only to contest elections in part of the state, in local elections or in elections to Údarás na Gaeltachta
need only 100 recorded members aged 18 or over. In either case at least least half of the recorded members must be on the register of electors.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, and coalition government
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
s are common. The state is unusual as a developed nation in that politics is not primarily characterised by the left-right political divide. This is because the two historically largest political parties Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
and Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
do not identify themselves first and foremost as either centre-right or centre-left parties. Rather, both parties arose from the great split that occurred in Irish politics at the time of the 1922–1923 Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
, that followed the foundation of the state. Both descended from factions of the original Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
party: Fine Gael from the faction that supported the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty
Anglo-Irish Treaty
The Anglo-Irish Treaty , officially called the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty Between Great Britain and Ireland, was a treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and representatives of the secessionist Irish Republic that concluded the Irish War of...
and Fianna Fáil from the anti-Treaty faction. This enduring characteristic of the Irish party system is sometimes pejoratively referred to as "Civil War politics".
Party details
Party representation
Fine Gael
Fine GaelFine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
is the largest party in the Oireachtas and is the largest party in local government in Ireland and has more MEPs than any other Irish party. It was founded in 1933 by a merger of the pro-Treaty Cumann na nGaedheal, the National Guard (popularly called the 'Blueshirts') and the small National Centre Party
National Centre Party (Ireland)
The National Centre Party, initially known as the National Farmers and Ratepayers League, was a short-lived political party in the Irish Free State...
. While historically Fine Gael has often been viewed as a centre-right party, supported by large farmers and businessmen, this characterisation is perhaps simplistic. For a period in the 1960s, for example, with the publication of the famous Just Society document, Fine Gael identified with the values of social democracy
Social democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
. Furthermore, during the 1980s, Fine Gael leader Garret FitzGerald
Garret FitzGerald
Garret FitzGerald was an Irish politician who was twice Taoiseach of Ireland, serving in office from July 1981 to February 1982 and again from December 1982 to March 1987. FitzGerald was elected to Seanad Éireann in 1965 and was subsequently elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael TD in 1969. He...
advocated the liberal agenda. It is now a member of the conservative, Christian Democratic, European People's Party
European People's Party
The European People's Party is a pro-European centre-right European political party. The EPP was founded in 1976 by Christian democratic parties, but later it increased its membership to include conservative parties and parties of other centre-right perspectives.The EPP is the most influential of...
. Historically Fine Gael has tended to support fiscal restraint and law and order domestically while adopting a less nationalist position on Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
than Fianna Fáil. It has formed government in the periods 1922–1932 (Cumman na nGaedhael), 1948–1951, 1954–1957, 1973–1977, 1981–82, 1982–1987, 1994–1997, and 2011 to date. It has been supported in coalition on all occasions since 1948, by the Labour party, and in three of those cases with other smaller groups.
The 2011 general election saw Fine Gael becoming the largest party in the Oireachtas with 36.1% of the vote. Their policies now seem to emphasis a more definitive stance by Fine Gael on upholding centre-right positions on most economic and social matters.
As of May 2011, Fine Gael is represented by 76 TD
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
s, 19 Senators, 4 MEP
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
s and 468 councillors nationally.
Labour Party
The centre-left and social democraticSocial democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
side of the Republic's politics is largely represented by the Labour Party
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
which is the state's second largest political party and has participated in coalition governments with each of the two largest parties over the years, primarily under Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
's leadership. It was in coalition with Fianna Fáil from 1992 to 1994. Founded in 1912 by James Connolly
James Connolly
James Connolly was an Irish republican and socialist leader. He was born in the Cowgate area of Edinburgh, Scotland, to Irish immigrant parents and spoke with a Scottish accent throughout his life. He left school for working life at the age of 11, but became one of the leading Marxist theorists of...
as a trade union movement, until 1927 the party was the main opposition party in the Dáil.
Hoping to create a stronger left-wing force, the Labour Party merged with the smaller Democratic Left
Democratic Left (Ireland)
Democratic Left was a democratic socialist political party active in Ireland between 1992 and 1999. It came into being after a split in the Workers' Party and, after just seven years in existence, it merged into the Irish Labour Party.-Origins:...
party in 1999 but this has not had as much impact as was hoped. The party's previous leader, Pat Rabbitte
Pat Rabbitte
Pat Rabbitte is an Irish Labour Party politician who has been Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources since March 2011...
(a former Democratic Left member), had expressed a strong preference for coalition with Fine Gael over Fianna Fáil.
The situation has changed owing to the relatively inconclusive result of the 2007 general election. The current leader, Eamon Gilmore
Eamon Gilmore
Eamon Gilmore is an Irish Labour Party politician and the current Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. He has been the Leader of the Labour Party since September 2007, and a Teachta Dála for the Dún Laoghaire constituency since 1989, first with the Workers' Party of Ireland, and...
(also a former Democratic Left member) has expressed his desire to build the Labour Party nationally to become the size of a main opposition party in locally and in Seanad
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
and Dáil seats rather than "the half size party electorally compared to the other 2 main parties Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael". He has expressed a desire for an independent election platform rather than preference for coalition with Fine Gael which was the case under the previous leader Pat Rabbitte. Eamon Gilmore has also said that he intended to take the Labour Party into the next election with the aim of becoming the largest party in the Dáil and to lead the resulting government.
As of May 2011, the Labour Party is represented by 37 TD
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
s, 12 Senators, 3 MEP
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
s, and 192 councillors nationally. It is the largest party on both Dublin and Galway city councils and South Dublin and Fingal County Councils.
Fianna Fáil
Fianna FáilFianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
is the third largest party in the Oireachtas
Oireachtas
The Oireachtas , sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the "national parliament" or legislature of Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of:*The President of Ireland*The two Houses of the Oireachtas :**Dáil Éireann...
(parliament) and the second largest as regards to total local council seats. It is republican
Irish Republicanism
Irish republicanism is an ideology based on the belief that all of Ireland should be an independent republic.In 1801, under the Act of Union, the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland merged to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
in outlook, rejects (as current FF leader Míchéal Martin has made reference to) the political labels of "Left Wing" and "Right Wing" and prefers to occupy the pragmatic centre ground. It was founded in 1926 by Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera was one of the dominant political figures in twentieth century Ireland, serving as head of government of the Irish Free State and head of government and head of state of Ireland...
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 destroy 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. Generally speaking, Fianna Fáil has always taken more populist positions on economic and social matters than their rivals Fine Gael and Labour. Their classic populist stance was highlighted during the years of Catholic dominance in Ireland before the mid 1980s and during the Celtic Tiger years when it dangerously engaged in the spending levels of a more left wing party while deregulating and cutting taxes from a more right wing perspective. Some argue that Fianna Fáil has traditionally been so successful as a political party as it seems to represent more of a national movement rather than the traditional left-right zeal of the more politically unsuccessful parties in Irish politics. Comparisons have been drawn to Fianna Fáil as always acting, since its inception, as a mirror image of the UK's New Labour Party in the 1990s- emphasising the need to appeal to the urban working classes while maintaining the image of economic and capitalistic competence. One Fianna Fáil member is often referred to as saying, "Fine Gael have their people, Labour have their people but Fianna Fáil, we're for all the people".
Bertie Ahern
Bertie Ahern
Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....
was the Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
(prime minister) from 1997 to 2008. His long-standing popularity is often attributed to his 'man of the people' persona and his considerable negotiating skill, having negotiated numerous social partnership
Social Partnership
Social partnership is the term used for the tripartite, triennial national pay agreements reached in Ireland.The process was initiated in 1987, following a period of high inflation and weak economic growth which led to increased emigration and unsustainable government borrowing and national debt...
contracts, the Belfast Agreement
Belfast Agreement
The Good Friday Agreement or Belfast Agreement , sometimes called the Stormont Agreement, was a major political development in the Northern Ireland peace process...
in Northern Ireland, and an agreement among EU heads of government on the European Constitution. He was succeeded by Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 7 May 2008 to 9 March 2011. He was head of a coalition government led by Fianna Fáil which until 23 January 2011 had the support of the Green Party and independent TDs.Cowen was also leader of Fianna Fáil from 7 May...
in May 2008. Brian Cowen resigned on January 22nd 2011.
In September 2007, Fianna Fáil announced that they would organise politically in the north. It is thought this may lead to a merger with the north's Social Democratic and Labour Party
Social Democratic and Labour Party
The Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom...
, however this idea has been dismissed by the current leader of the SDLP.
Due in part to the Irish economic downturn, Fianna Fáil saw more than three quaters of its sitting TDs lose their seat in the 2011 general election, coming third behind Fine Gael and the Labour Party.
As of June 2011, Fianna Fáil is represented by 19 TD
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
s, 14 Senators
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
, 3 MEP
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
s, and 218. councillors nationally.
Sinn Féin
The name Sinn FéinSinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
has been applied to a series of political movements since 1905 in Ireland, each of which claim or claimed sole descent from the original party established by Arthur Griffith
Arthur Griffith
Arthur Griffith was the founder and third leader of Sinn Féin. He served as President of Dáil Éireann from January to August 1922, and was head of the Irish delegation at the negotiations in London that produced the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921.-Early life:...
in 1905. The largest of the modern-day Sinn Féin parties was closely linked to the Provisional Irish Republican Army
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
and was the only political party to have seats in the parliaments of both Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
until the Green Party organised on an island-wide basis. Since supporting the Peace Process
Belfast Agreement
The Good Friday Agreement or Belfast Agreement , sometimes called the Stormont Agreement, was a major political development in the Northern Ireland peace process...
Sinn Féin has seen a dramatic increase in support in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland. It has emerged as the second largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly
Northern Ireland Assembly
The Northern Ireland Assembly is the devolved legislature of Northern Ireland. It has power to legislate in a wide range of areas that are not explicitly reserved to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and to appoint the Northern Ireland Executive...
with 28 seats out of 108 and the fifth largest in the Republic of Ireland with 4 seats in the Dáil in the 2007 general election). Sinn Féin's platform is primarily focused on achieving the reunification of Ireland
United Ireland
A united Ireland is the term used to refer to the idea of a sovereign state which covers all of the thirty-two traditional counties of Ireland. The island of Ireland includes the territory of two independent sovereign states: the Republic of Ireland, which covers 26 counties of the island, and the...
and a large scale expansion of Ireland's social services (such as adopting a universal health care system and creating subsidised housing), reform of the tax system and support for small and co-operative businesses. Their political ideology mainly revolves around democratic socialism
Democratic socialism
Democratic socialism is a description used by various socialist movements and organizations to emphasize the democratic character of their political orientation...
, Irish Republicanism
Irish Republicanism
Irish republicanism is an ideology based on the belief that all of Ireland should be an independent republic.In 1801, under the Act of Union, the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland merged to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
, and Civic Nationalism
Civic nationalism
Liberal Nationalism is a kind of nationalism identified by political philosophers who believe in a non-xenophobic form of nationalism compatible with liberal values of freedom, tolerance, equality, and individual rights. Ernest Renan and John Stuart Mill are often thought to be early liberal...
.
As of April 2011, Sinn Féin is represented in the Republic of Ireland by 14 TD
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
s, 3 Senators and 127 councillors.
United Left Alliance
Prior to the 2011 general election the United Left AllianceUnited Left Alliance
The United Left Alliance is an electoral alliance of left-wing political parties and independent politicians in the Republic of Ireland, formed to contest the 2011 general election...
was formed by the Socialist Party
Socialist Party (Ireland)
The Socialist Party is a socialist political party active in Ireland. It is a member of the Committee for a Workers' International .Formerly known as Militant Tendency, then Militant Labour, it adopted the name The Socialist Party in 1996. From their foundation in 1972 until the 1980s, members of...
, the People Before Profit Alliance
People Before Profit Alliance
The People Before Profit Alliance is an Irish political party formed in October 2005. It is active in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.-Overview:It was established by the Socialist Workers Party...
and the Workers and Unemployed Action Group. The alliance won 5 seats (two SP, two PBPA and one WUAG)
Socialist Party
The Socialist PartySocialist Party (Ireland)
The Socialist Party is a socialist political party active in Ireland. It is a member of the Committee for a Workers' International .Formerly known as Militant Tendency, then Militant Labour, it adopted the name The Socialist Party in 1996. From their foundation in 1972 until the 1980s, members of...
was formed in 1996 by far left former members of the Labour Party. It is a Marxist political party in the Trotskyist tradition and is organised in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Socialist Party was previously named the Militant Tendency of the Labour Party but was expelled in the late 1980s. Joe Higgins
Joe Higgins
Joe Higgins is an Irish Socialist Party politician. In the 2011 general election he was elected to Dáil Éireann as Teachta Dála for the Dublin West constituency, having previously served in that capacity from 1997–2007...
was its sole member of Dáil Éireann representing Dublin West between 1997 and 2007, and in 2009 was elected to the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
. The party is affiliated to the Committee for a Workers' International
Committee for a Workers' International
The Committee for a Workers' International is an international association of Trotskyist parties. Members include the Socialist Party of England and Wales, the Socialist Party , the Socialist Party the Democratic Socialist Movement in South Africa and Nigeria and groups using the name Socialist...
(CWI).
As of April 2011, the Socialist Party is represented by 2 TDs, 6 councillors and 1 MEP.
People Before Profit Alliance
The People Before Profit AlliancePeople Before Profit Alliance
The People Before Profit Alliance is an Irish political party formed in October 2005. It is active in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.-Overview:It was established by the Socialist Workers Party...
(PBPA) was formed in 2005 by the Socialist Workers Party
Socialist Workers Party (Ireland)
The Socialist Workers Party is an Irish Trotskyist political party.-Foundation and growth:The SWP was originally founded in 1971 as the Socialist Workers Movement by supporters of the International Socialists of Britain living in Northern Ireland, who had previously been members of People's...
, subsequently absorbing the Crumlin based Community & Workers Action Group led by Joan Collins
Joan Collins
Joan Henrietta Collins, OBE , is an English actress, author, and columnist. Born in Paddington and raised in Maida Vale, Collins grew up during the Second World War. At the age of nine, she made her stage debut in A Doll's House and after attending school, she was classically trained as an actress...
in 2007. It is a broad left alliance that seeks to gather support against neoliberalism and war, and pursues other left-wing issues. The alliance succeeded in having five councillors elected in 2009
Irish local elections, 2009
The 2009 Irish local elections were held in all the counties, cities and towns of Ireland on Friday, 5 June 2009, on the same day as the European Parliament election and two by-elections .-Overview:...
.
As of April 2011, the PBPA is represented by two TDs and five councillors.
Workers and Unemployed Action Group
The Workers and Unemployed Action Group (WUAG) is a left-wing political organisation formed in 1985 by Séamus HealySéamus Healy
Séamus Healy is an Irish politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for Tipperary South since the general election in February 2011,having previously held the seat from 2000 to 2007....
in response to lack of employment and the economic situation in the South Tipperary area. Healy along with his brother Paddy Healy, were former members of the Trotskyist League for a Workers Republic
League for a Workers Republic
The League for a Workers' Republic was a Trotskyist organisation in Ireland.- Foundation :It was founded in 1968 by members of the Irish Workers' Group, which was mainly centred on Irish emigrants to Britain and was itself the result of a previous split in the Irish Communist Group between those,...
. Healy was elected to Dáil Éireann at a by-election in 2000, holding the seat until 2007. For the 2011 general election the WUAG formed the United Left Alliance
United Left Alliance
The United Left Alliance is an electoral alliance of left-wing political parties and independent politicians in the Republic of Ireland, formed to contest the 2011 general election...
along with the Socialist Party and the People Before Profit Alliance. The alliance won 5 seats, with Healy becoming TD for Tipperary South
Tipperary South (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Tipperary South is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies...
.
As of April 2011, the WUAG is represented by one TD and five councillors.
Independents
As well as a number of parties, Dáil ÉireannDáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
(the lower house of parliament) also often has independent TDs
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
(deputies) as members, who play an important role in Irish politics and are sometimes called upon to support minority governments or governments with slim majorities. They are usually elected on left-wing platforms or on local issues alone.
As of May 2011, independents comprise 14 TD
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
s, 12 senators, 1 MEP
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
and over 200 councillors nationally.
Green Party
The Green PartyGreen Party (Ireland)
The Green Party is a green political party in Ireland. It was founded as the Ecology Party of Ireland in 1981 by Dublin teacher Christopher Fettes. The party became the Green Alliance in 1983 and in 1987 was renamed to its current title in English...
was established in 1981 and is allied to the European Green Party
European Green Party
The European Green Party is the Green political party at European level. As such it is a federation of green parties in Europe.-History:...
. It won its first seat in the Dáil in 1989, and continued to represented there until 2011. The party advocates ecologically sound and socially liberal policies. In 1994 and again in 1999, two of Ireland's 15 MEP
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
s were from the Green party, but both seats were lost in 2004.
The Green Party of 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 into coalition government with Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
and the Progressive Democrats
Progressive Democrats
The Progressive Democrats , commonly known as the PDs, was a pro-free market liberal political party in the Republic of Ireland.Launched on 21 December 1985 by Desmond O'Malley and other politicians who had split from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the Progressive Democrats took liberal positions on...
in the Republic of Ireland. In January 2011 they left the coalition, and in the general election in February of that year, lost all of their Dáil seats.
As of April 2011, the Green Party is represented by 3 county councillors and 13 town councillors.
Workers' Party
The Workers' PartyWorkers' Party of Ireland
The Workers' Party is a left-wing republican political party in Ireland. Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970 after a split within the party, adopting its current name in 1982....
is a Marxist-Leninist party allied with the international workers and communist parties. It emerged from the Irish republican movement and from the original Sinn Féin but the name was changed to the Workers' Party in 1982. It is organised in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. During the 1980s it was a significant party on the political scene with 7 TDs elected in 1989 and 1 MEP. However the party was tainted with associations with the Official IRA
Official IRA
The Official Irish Republican Army or Official IRA is an Irish republican paramilitary group whose goal was to create a "32-county workers' republic" in Ireland. It emerged from a split in the Irish Republican Army in December 1969, shortly after the beginning of "The Troubles"...
. A special Ard Fheis (conference) in 1992 designed to re-constitute the party and remove links with the OIRA resulted in a formal split with the bulk of the parliamentary party and councillors leaving to form Democratic Left
Democratic Left (Ireland)
Democratic Left was a democratic socialist political party active in Ireland between 1992 and 1999. It came into being after a split in the Workers' Party and, after just seven years in existence, it merged into the Irish Labour Party.-Origins:...
. Democratic Left voted to merge with the Labour Party in 1999. The Workers' Party currently has 2 councillors, Ted Tynan
Ted Tynan
Timothy "Ted" Tynan is a member of Cork City Council and leading member of the Workers' Party of Ireland.Councillor Tynan was born in Cork city in 1942...
on Cork City Council
Cork City Council
Cork City Council is the local authority which is responsible for the city of Cork and its immediate hinterland in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment...
and Davy Walsh on Waterford City Council
Waterford City Council
Waterford City Council is the local authority which is responsible for the city of Waterford and its immediate hinterland in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment.The Chairman ...
.
Communist Party of Ireland
The Communist Party of IrelandCommunist Party of Ireland
The Communist Party of Ireland is a small all-Ireland Marxist party, founded in 1933. An earlier party, the Socialist Party of Ireland, was renamed the Communist Party of Ireland in 1921 on its affiliation to the Communist International but was dissolved in 1924. The present-day CPI was founded in...
was first founded in 1921, and re-founded in 1933; the current communist party originates from 1970, when the Communist Party of Northern Ireland joined with the Irish Workers Party (not related to the current Workers Party). While a registered political party, it has not stood candidates in recent elections, and remains quite small. It was historically quite influential in the trade union movement.
Registered
The following parties are on the Register of Political Parties maintained under the Electoral Acts 1992–2002. In order to be registered to contest national elections a party must have either at least one member in Dáil Éireann or the European ParliamentEuropean Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
, or 300 recorded members aged 18 or over. Parties that register only to contest elections in part of the state, in local elections or in elections to Údarás na Gaeltachta
Údarás na Gaeltachta
Údarás na Gaeltachta , abbreviated ÚnaG, is a regional state agency which is responsible for the economic, social and cultural development of nominally Irish-speaking regions of the Republic of Ireland...
need only 100 recorded members aged 18 or over. In either case at least least half of the recorded members must be on the register of electors.
- Christian Democrats (The National Party)
- Christian Solidarity PartyChristian Solidarity PartyThe Christian Solidarity Party is a registered political party in the Republic of Ireland. It has no representation at local or national level. Founded in 1991 as the Christian Party, it was renamed in 1994 to incorporate the word "Solidarity" following a mutual pledge of support between the party...
- ÉirígíÉirígí-External links:*...
(Local elections only) - Fís NuaFís NuaFís Nua is a minor political party in the Republic of Ireland.The party was formed in June 2010, mainly by former members of the Green Party who were unhappy with that party's participation in the then coalition government with Fianna Fáil...
- Letterkenny Residents PartyLetterkenny Residents PartyLetterkenny Residents Party is a minor political party in the Republic of Ireland. It was founded to contest the 2009 local elections in Letterkenny. It combined local residents with Francis McCafferty who polled 64 votes standing for the Socialist Party in the 2004 council election...
(Elections in Letterkenny area only) - Seniors Solidarity PartySeniors Solidarity PartySeniors Solidarity is a minor political party in Ireland. It was founded in November 2008, by John Wolfe following the Medical Card changes in the 2009 Budget. It announced it would stand candidates at the 2009 local elections, all candidates being over the age of 60...
(Local elections in County Dublin only) - Socialist Workers PartySocialist Workers Party (Ireland)The Socialist Workers Party is an Irish Trotskyist political party.-Foundation and growth:The SWP was originally founded in 1971 as the Socialist Workers Movement by supporters of the International Socialists of Britain living in Northern Ireland, who had previously been members of People's...
- South Kerry Independent AllianceSouth Kerry Independent AllianceThe South Kerry Independent Alliance is a minor political party in the Republic of Ireland. It was established by former Labour Party members in the 1990s based in the Kerry South constituency...
(Elections in South Kerry only)
Non-registered
Unregistered parties are entitled to contest elections. However, the party's name will not appear on the ballot paper, and they are described in official results as "non-party".- Irish Republican Socialist PartyIrish Republican Socialist PartyThe Irish Republican Socialist Party or IRSP is a republican socialist party active in Ireland. It claims the legacy of socialist revolutionary James Connolly, who founded the Irish Socialist Republican Party in 1896 and was executed after the Easter Rising of 1916.- History :The Irish Republican...
- Irish Socialist NetworkIrish Socialist NetworkThe Irish Socialist Network is a democratic socialist organisation formed in 2001. It is a campaigning organisation which works actively to fight for the rights of Irish workers and to help build a socialist Ireland. It is based in Belfast and Dublin...
- Pirate Party IrelandPirate Party IrelandThe Pirate Party Ireland was an Irish political group, modelled on the Swedish Piratpartiet. The party was founded in May 2009 after discussions on the Pirate Party International website...
- Republican Sinn FéinRepublican Sinn FéinRepublican Sinn Féin or RSF is an unregisteredAlthough an active movement, RSF is not registered as a political party in either Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland. minor political party operating in Ireland. It emerged in 1986 as a result of a split in Sinn Féin...
- United Left AllianceUnited Left AllianceThe United Left Alliance is an electoral alliance of left-wing political parties and independent politicians in the Republic of Ireland, formed to contest the 2011 general election...
(Alliance of Socialist Party, PBPA and WUAG founded 2010)