Fine Gael

Fine Gael (IPA {{IPA|}} in English and {{IPA|}} in Irish, approximate English translation: Family of the Irish) is the second largest political party in both the Republic of Ireland and Ireland as a whole. It was founded on 3 September 1933 following the merger of Cumann na nGaedheal, the Centre Party and the Blueshirts (National Guard) though it traces its origins back to the struggle for Irish independence and the pro-Treaty side in the Irish Civil War, identified in particular with Michael Collins. Fine Gael today describes itself as a party of the progressive centre though, in many ways, the party complies with the model of the mainland European christian democratic parties. They are strongly pro-EU integration and opposed to militant Irish republicanism, advocating a more pluralist brand of Irish Nationalism. It is the sole party in the Republic of Ireland to be aligned with the European People's Party in the European Parliament. Today, the party claims a membership of over 34,000.

Core policies

Fine Gael, since the days of Cumann na nGheadheal, has been known as the party of law and order as a result of its tough stance on crime and the causes of crime and its origins in defending the Anglo-Irish Treaty. In Government the party has often utilised the forces of the State to combat lawlessness and subversives. Owing to its origins in the pro-treaty faction of Sinn Féin, Fine Gael is directly opposed to those who show disloyalty to the Irish State founded in 1922 and sees itself as the protector of the State's institutions. Fine Gael has, since its inception, been a party of fiscal rectitude advocating pro-enterprise policies while integrity in public life is a core value of the party. Fine Gael is, perhaps, the most pro-European integrationist party in the Republic of Ireland. Today the party is closely associated with a campaign highlighting a rip-off culture in Ireland.

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However the party has refused to move to either Social-Democracy or the Centre-Right and while currently trying to position itself as an alternative government, along with the Labour party, it has not proposed a substantial ideological shift.

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However the party has made proposals in specficic, although few, areas such as Neutrality, Childcare and Same Sex Unions.

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