Ireland’s Future: Irish General Election Called

a Chara,

The relationship between Ireland and the US is not determined by election cycles, it is deeper than politics. It is a bond of family and friendship.

Like all families, we will agree and disagree on issues. I believe President Trump and the new Congress will continue to do the right thing by Ireland and stand up for the Good Friday Agreement. There are also many points of difference between the US and Ireland on foreign policy, in particular on the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Just as the US has ended its election campaign an Irish General Election has been called. The Taoiseach and leader of Fine Gael, Simon Harris confirmed that the election will be held on Friday, November 29th.

Since partition, one hundred years ago, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil had controlled both government and opposition in Dublin, swapping between elections.

The historical difference between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael is rooted in their relative positions in the Civil War of 1922-1924. One hundred years on there is little or no policy difference and a shared desire to stay in power.

Fine Gael came to power in 2011 on the back of overinflated property costs and a banking crisis that had occurred under the watch of the Fianna Fáil Government.

In 2016 Fianna Fáil kept a new minority Fine Gael government and in 2020 the two parties entered government together.

Their shared objective was to retain power at all costs by keeping Sinn Féin out.  In turn, Mary Lou McDonald became the first woman and first Sinn Féin President to lead the official opposition.

Thirteen years of Fine Gael Government and we have again a housing crisis with rising rents, property costs, and homelessness at a time when the Irish economy is booming.

Since the founding of the State, neither party has progressed in Irish unity. Today they are resistant to even planning, preparing, or advocating for unity.

Despite claiming that the election would be held in the New Year, the government has now opted for the shortest possible campaign of three weeks before Christmas. Their thinking is that with softening Sinn Féin poll numbers, a short campaign will not allow time to interrogate their record in Office.

In 2020 the electorate made Sinn Féin a mandate to lead change. This election the challenge will be for Sinn Féin to increase its vote to build an alternative to the past 100 years of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Tonight is the start of canvassing. I’ll keep you up to date on progress.

It will be a busy three weeks but one that represents a historic opportunity to elect a government of real change in Dublin and to progress the cause of Irish Unity.

Have a great weekend.

Is mise,

Ciarán

Ciarán Quinn is the Sinn Féin Representative to North America