X-Nico

5 unusual facts about Fine Gael


Fine Gael

Fine Gael won 19 seats in Seanad Éireann following the 2011 election, a gain of four from the previous election in 2007.

Following revelations at the Moriarty Tribunal on 16 February 1999, in relation to Charles Haughey and his relationship with AIB, former Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald confirmed that AIB and Ansbacher wrote off debts of almost £200,000 that he owed in 1993, when he was in financial difficulties because of the collapse of the aircraft leasing company, GPA, in which he was a shareholder.

This strategy was criticised by Fianna Fáil Minister for Children, Barry Andrews.

The release of equity through the sale of the various state resources, including electricity generation services belonging to the ESB, Bord na Móna and Bord Gáis, in combination with use of money in the National Pensions Reserve Fund, is the means by which Fine Gael is proposing to fund its national stimulus package.

Tesco Ireland

Large supermarket chains were accused by Fine Gael of putting up to 100,000 Irish jobs at risk by forcing suppliers to pay €160 million a year in "hello money".


1892 in Ireland

20 October - Eoin O'Duffy, first leader of Fine Gael and the Blueshirts, leader of Irish volunteers on the Nationalist side of the Spanish Civil War (died 1944).

Brody Sweeney

He was a Fine Gael candidate for Dublin North–East in the 2007 general election, where he garnered 3,400 first preference votes, but was beaten by Terence Flanagan for the seat.

Colm Mac Eochaidh

A former member of Fine Gael, in the 2002 Irish general election he unsuccessfully ran in the constituency of Dublin South-East, as a running mate to sitting Fine Gael TD Frances Fitzgerald.

Financial Regulator

The Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and finance spokesman Richard Bruton called for the board and senior management of the Financial Regulator to be sacked.

Graham Geraghty

In 2006, Geraghty was selected by the right-leaning Fine Gael political party to contest the general election of 2007 in his home constituency of Meath West.

IDA Ireland

The sponsoring minister was Daniel Morrissey of Fine Gael who was influenced by a friend of his, a Czech businessman who experienced his country's economic success in the pre war period.

Irish presidential election, 1990

Fine Gael, after trying and failing to get former Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald and former Tánaiste Peter Barry to run, ultimately nominated the former civil rights campaigner and SDLP member Austin Currie.

Ivan Yates

When John Bruton resigned as leader of Fine Gael in January 2001, there was much speculation that Yates would be a contender for the vacant position.

James Ennis

He was later an unsuccessful candidate for Dáil Éireann in the Dublin County constituency, standing for Cumann na nGaedheal at the 1932, 1933 general elections and for Fine Gael at the 1937 general elections.

Letterkenny General Hospital

Taoiseach Enda Kenny of Fine Gael remarked that the floods had “destroyed a first class medical facility” and called the damage “very substantial - records lost, MRI machine, diagnostics laboratory, walls to be stripped and decontaminated. It means, effectively, that Letterkenny General Hospital will be out of operation for a considerable time”.

Martin Doherty

Photos of the paramilitary display at Doherty's funeral appeared in Irish newspapers causing John Bruton, the leader of opposition party Fine Gael, to criticise the government during a debate in Dáil Éireann.

Patrick Guiney

Patrick and John were uncles of Philip Burton (1910–1995), Fine Gael TD for Cork North–East 1961–69, and member of the Seanad 1973–77.

Rita Childers

However, a political dispute in which a partially deaf Fine Gael minister in the National Coalition government, Tom O'Donnell, misheard a journalist's question about Mrs Childers and confirmed that she would be the next president led the plan to collapse.

Royston Brady

Having left Fianna Fáil Brady was publicly courted by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny who is quoted as saying “ He's going to join up, He's a man of energy, drive and commitment.”

Sir John Esmonde, 16th Baronet

Sir John Henry Grattan Esmonde, 16th Baronet of the Esmonde baronets, (27 June 1928 – 16 May 1987) was an Irish Fine Gael politician.

St Mel's cathedral, Longford

In 2012 Fine Gael TD James Bannon asked Bishop Colm O'Reilly to reconsider selecting an Italian organ maker to rebuild the organ in the Cathedral.

Willie O'Dea affidavit controversy

Fine Gael Senator Eugene Regan brought the matter to the attention of the Oireachtas and stated that O'Dea ought to resign from office.


see also

Alexis FitzGerald

His nephew Alexis FitzGerald, Jnr (born 1945), former Irish Fine Gael politician, TD and Senator

Alexis FitzGerald, Snr (died 1985), Irish solicitor and Fine Gael Senator

Dockrell

Henry Morgan Dockrell (1880–1955), Irish Cumann na nGaedhael and Fine Gael party politician

Fintan Coogan

His son Fintan Coogan, Jnr (born 1944), also an Irish Fine Gael politician, TD and senator

Fintan Coogan, Snr (1910–1984), Irish Fine Gael politician, TD and senator

Gerald O'Sullivan

Gearóid O'Sullivan (1891–1948), Irish teacher, army officer, barrister and Sinn Féin and Fine Gael politician.

Henry Dockrell

Henry Morgan Dockrell (died 1955), Irish Cumann na nGaedhael and Fine Gael politician who was elected to both Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann

Percy Dockrell, full name Henry Percy Dockrell, son of the above, (1914–1979), Irish Fine Gael party politician, TD for Dún Laoghaire 1951–1977

History of Fine Gael

Fine Gael seemed trendy under FitzGerald's leadership (for instance, U2 endorsed them at this time).

John Farrelly

John V. Farrelly (born 1954), Irish Fine Gael party politician, former TD and senator

John Mannion

His son John Mannion, Jnr (1944–2006), also an Irish Fine Gael politician from County Galway

John Mannion, Snr (1907–1978), Irish Fine Gael politician from County Galway

John O'Sullivan

John M. O'Sullivan (1881–1948), Irish Cumann na nGaedhael/Fine Gael politician, TD, cabinet minister and academic

Maurice Dockrell

Maurice E. Dockrell (1908–1986), grandson of the above and Irish Fine Gael party politician

Patrick Burke

Paddy Burke (born 1955), Irish Fine Gael party politician from County Mayo, Senator since 1993

Paul Connaughton

Paul Connaughton, Snr (born 1944), Irish Fine Gael politician for Galway East from 1981–2011

His son Paul Connaughton, Jnr, Irish Fine Gael politician for Galway East since 2011

Thomas Esmonde

Sir John Esmonde, 14th Baronet (1893–1958), Fine Gael TD for Wexford 1937–1951

Sir John Esmonde, 16th Baronet, (1928–1987), Fine Gael TD for Wexford 1973–1977

William Cotter

Bill Cotter (born 1943), Irish Fine Gael politician, former TD and Senator