Background: The Irish State (the 26 counties) gained independence from Britain
following the War of Independence, which began in 1919, and the Treaty, which was signed
in 1921. Northern Ireland - comprising of counties Armagh, Down, Antrim, Derry, Fermanagh
and Tyrone - is part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The 26
counties of the Irish Free State were designated a Republic by act of the Irish Parliament
(Dáil Éireann) in 1948. The Republic of Ireland came into being in 1949.
Irish politics has traditionally been dominated by Ireland's opposition to British rule.
The divisions created at the time of the Treaty with Britain in 1921 eventually led to a
civil war between the pro- and anti-treaty sides.
The two major political parties - Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael originate in the anti- and
pro-Treaty sides respectively. Indeed, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Sinn Féin, and even the
IRA all flowed from the same spring - that of rising up against British rule in Ireland.
Although smaller than the two main parties, the Labour Party (which recently incorporated
the Democratic Left party) has had a major influence on Irish politics.
The right-of-centre Progressive Democrats, which holds only four seats in the Dáil forms
the current minority government with Fianna Fáil.
Ireland is a democracy and its parliament is called the Oireachtas. The Oireachtas
consists of two houses: Dáil Éireann (House of Representatives), and the Seanad
(Senate). The Dáil has 166 members, or TDs, who are elected by secret ballot and the
Proportional Representation system, using a single transferable vote.
The Seanad has 60 members, who are elected by university graduates and a number of
vocational panels. Eleven members of the Seanad are appointed by the Taoiseach.
While the Taoiseach is the head of the government and looks after the day-to-day running
of the country, Ireland also has a constitutional President. The President, who is the
official head of the State, has little power, but is allowed to dissolve or refuse to
dissolve a government if asked by the Taoiseach of the day. The President is also the head
of the Defence Forces.
Definition of terms
Dáil Éireann: Seat of Irish parliament
Oireachtas: The Irish parliament
Seanad Eireann: Upper house of parliament or Senate
Teachta Dála (TD): Member of Dáil Éireann
Taoiseach/Taoisigh: Prime Minister/s
An tÚachtaran: The President
Bunreacht na hÉireann: The Irish Constitution
Major Political Parties
Fianna Fáil: (The Republican Party) The country's largest political party,
founded by Éamon de Valera in 1926. A centrist political party with strong republican
leanings. Fianna Fáil currently holds 76 seats in a minority government coalition with
the Progressive Democrats, which holds four, but relies on the support of at least three
of the independent TDs to achieve the majority of 83. Mr Bertie Ahern, the party leader,
is currently Taoiseach.
Fine Gael: (United Ireland Party) The country's second largest political
party. A Christian Democratic party, founded in 1933. The party holds 54 out of the 166
seats in Dáil Éireann. The leader of Fine Gael is John Bruton.
Labour Party: Founded in 1912 at a conference of the Irish Trade Union Congress in
Clonmel under the inspiration of socialist leaders, James Connolly, Jim Larkin and William
O'Brien. Now led by Ruairi Quinn, the party's 17 seats increased by four following a
merger with the Democratic Left Party in January 1999.
The Progressive Democrats : (PDs)The Progressive Democrat Party was formed in 1985.
The party has four Dáil Deputies. The PD leader is Mary Harney, the first woman to lead a
political party in the State.
Green Party: Founded in 1981 as the Ecology Party of Ireland, the party was renamed
the Green Party in 1986. The party has two deputies in the Dáil. It campaigns on all
issues, but has a particular interest in environmental issues.
Sinn Féin: The political wing of the IRA with one seat in Dáil Éireann. Not an
illegal organisation.
Socialist Party: The Socialist Party was formed by Joe Higgins, following a split
with the Labour Party. Mr Higgins holds the party's single seat in Dail Eireann.