Fianna Fáil: Tenacious Localism, Tenuous Europeanism

Abstract

Fianna Fáil is a party used to government, authority and influence in the domestic sphere. This has been to a large part secured by the vitality and strength of its local organization. The party has, in contrast, struggled to find its place in the sphere of European politics. Its main successes in the EU arena have arisen from its experience as Ireland's governing party. This is reflected in the fact that the pro‐Europeanism that exists within the party is pivoted on the belief that its leadership will defend national interests and negotiate good deals for Ireland in Brussels. These two ‘fundamentals’ in party support – localism and power – were thrown into doubt by the results of the 2008 Lisbon referendum and the 2009 European and local elections. This article draws on original, qualitative interviews with Fianna Fáil MEPs and party members across Ireland conducted in the wake of these election results. Using Ladrech's (2002) model as an outline, it reveals the ways in which the party's localism has delimited the effects of Europeanization. Furthermore, it argues that the crisis faced by the Fianna Fáil government in late 2009 represented the culmination of local/central and national/European tensions within the party and beyond its control.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the anonymous referees, and Mary C. Murphy and Eoin O'Malley for their helpful advice on previous drafts of this paper.

Notes

1. ‘European Commission continues criticism of McCreevy's Budget’, 2 February 2001, and ‘EU Finance Ministers endorse budgetary reprimand’, 12 Feburary 2001, available at: www.rte.ie/news/2001/0212/eu.html; ‘Taoiseach backs McCreevy's stance on Budget’, 2 February 2001, available at: www.rte.ie/news/2001/0202/eu.html (accessed August 2009).

2. For example: ‘We will implement this initiative [on manufacture and use of chemicals] as a matter of priority in a way which does not impact on the competitiveness of our economy’ (Fianna Fáil, 2007: 64, emphasis added).

3. Based on information in Fianna Fáil (2006) plus registered cumainn and membership lists provided to Jonathan Fallon by Fianna Fáil Party headquarters, May 2008.

4. All quotations in this paper expressing the opinion of MEPs are extracts from interviews with two sitting Fianna Fáil MEPs conducted (on the condition of anonymity) via telephone by Jonathan Fallon, 28 July and 31 July 2009. Emphases have been added.

5. For example, Gerry Collins (1994–2004), Gene FitzGerald (1984–1994), Jim Fitzsimons (1984–2004), Liam Hyland (1994–2004), Mark Killilea (1987–1999).

6. As was the case for, among others, Síle de Valera (1979–1984), Brian Lenihan (1973–1977), Tom Nolan (1973–1979) and, one who crossed back and forth between the roles of MEP and TD/Minister of State, Pat ‘the Cope’ Gallagher (1994–2002, 2009–).

7. All quotations in this article from party members are extracts from telephone and face‐to‐face interviews with 83 members of the Fianna Fáil party from across all 26 counties conducted (on the condition of anonymity) by Jonathan Fallon, 8 June–31 July 2009. Emphases have been added.

8. In a twist of fate, Gallagher's return to the European Parliament (following his loss of a ministerial position in Cowen's government and Ó Neachtain's resignation as MEP in 2009) necessitated a by‐election in Donegal South West which posed the prospect of a minority government for Brian Cowen following resignations from the party whip in Summer 2009.

9. For examples, see Dáil Debates volumes 352 ‘EC Farm Spending’ (18 October 1984), 358 ‘EC Agricultural Price Settlement’ (21 May 1985), and 467 ‘Compensation for Beef Farmers' (25 June 1996).

10. ‘We will, as we have always done, fight to ensure that the interests of Irish farmers, rural communities and the Irish food sector are fully protected’ (Fianna Fáil, 2009: 20).