• Forum
• SITREP

• Military

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space
• Public Eye

Further Reading

Political Parties

Irish politics remain dominated by the two political parties that grew out of Ireland's bitter 1922-23 civil war. Fianna Fail was formed by those who opposed the 1921 treaty that partitioned the island. Although treaty opponents lost the civil war, Fianna Fail soon became Ireland's largest political party. Fine Gael, representative of the pro-treaty forces, remains the country's second-largest party. The Progressive Democrats, Labour, Sinn Fein, and the Greens are the other significant parties.

Fianna Fáil, the Republican Party has 79 elected members in the Dáil (elected in June 2007) and 4 elected Members of the European Parliament. It operates as part of the 'Union for Europe' group in the European Parliament. It describes itself as a broadly centrist party whose aims include securing, in peace and agreement, the unity and independence of Ireland, and the development of a distinct national life in accordance with the diverse traditions of the Irish people. It has been the largest party in Dáil Éireann since 1932, and has formed the government seven times since Ireland gained independence in 1921.

Fine Gael, the second largest party, has 51 elected members in the Dáil (elected in June 2007) and 5 elected Members of the European Parliament. It describes itself as the party of the "progressive centre", with core values focused on fiscal rectitude, free enterprise and reward, individual rights and responsibilities. They are strongly pro-EU integration and operate as part of the European People's Party in the European Parliament.

The Labour Party is affiliated to the Socialist International Party and is a member of the Party of European Socialists (PES) in the European Parliament. It seeks to build a society free from deprivation and based on the principles of democracy, equity, participation and co-operation.

The Green Party is a political party associated with Green Parties in over 30 other countries. It stands for protection of the environment, community decision-making, freedom of information, open government and peace through disarmament. The Green Party motto is 'Think Globally, Act Locally'. The Party is represented at local, national and European Parliament level.

Sinn Féin is an Irish republican party. Its objectives are the reunification of Ireland, political independence and national sovereignty.

The Progressive Democrats was established with the aim of providing Ireland with a modern, forward-looking liberal party in the European mould and is working to develop the role of the State in the economic and social life of the country.