Fine Gael has become “very much centre-left” after abandoning its traditional political ground, an Independent Ireland TD has claimed.
Speaking to reporters on the Leinster House plinth today, Cork TD Michael Collins said that the party had abandoned the centre-right in favour of “left-side politics.”
“We certainly will be focusing on a centre-right type politics, something that Fine Gael one time stood for, and Fianna Fáil to a degree, but have abandoned that to the left-side politics,” he said.
“And that’s not really welcomed by the people of Ireland, and their membership drop from 2024 to 2025 is telling them that.
“I think they’re trying to shift back into our territory. We’ll see where that goes, because I don’t think it’s from the heart.”
When asked where he placed Fine Gael on the political spectrum amid ongoing internal debate over its ideological identity, Collins stated that the party was undergoing soul-searching following alleged membership losses.
“Well it’s obvious they are doing a lot of soul-searching, because you don’t lose membership, and if that was our case we’d have to do soul-searching as well,” he said.
“They’re very much centre-left, and have been.
“And the people of Ireland are greatly angered by that, and they are hard-working people, and they see they’re not standing for the ordinary man and woman that they may have stood for many years ago.”
Collins added that Independent Ireland intended to remain firmly on the centre-right, maintaining that voters from both government parties were seeking alternative representation.
“We didn’t take their ground,” he said.
“Always our intention was to be centre-right, and we’re not moving from that ground.
“And I think people relate themselves back to Independent Ireland, and that’s both from the Fine Gael and the Fianna Fáil side.
“They now are looking, and the people of Ireland in droves are looking for a new party that stands with the people.”
The remarks were made after a recent Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll found Fine Gael unchanged on 18%, with Independent Ireland up 2 points to a record 9%.
Responding to the criticism, Fine Gael Enterprise Minister Peter Burke laughed at the idea that his party was centre-Left, and denied that the party had abandoned its core beliefs.
“Fine Gael is always on the principal of rewarding enterprise, ensuring we have a strong economy which is the engine room that drives the resources to protect the most vulnerable and run our public services,” he said.
“A party that stands for law and order, and giving a second chance to those that deserve it. Understanding that a quality job is the best opportunity for people to realise their ambitions in life.”
He added: “So people will choose to categorise parties as they see fit.”
The remarks come amid internal discussions within Fine Gael regarding its ideological positioning ahead of its annual Ard Fheis, which took place over the weekend.
A group of grassroots members had submitted a draft motion calling on the party to formally affirm its status as a centre-right organisation “in the European Christian Democratic tradition”.
On social media, Fine Gael Councillor for Stillorgan Eoin O’Driscoll, explained his support for the motion.
“I was proud to contribute to this motion and propose it to my local Fine Gael constituency organisation where it was backed 2:1 by members after a great debate,” he said.
“Parties of the centre cannot shy away from ideological debate. We need to contest the battle of ideas.”
Economist and media commentator David Higgins, who also supported the motion, told the Irish Times that the party should examine whether its description as the “progressive centre” remained a good idea, claiming that this phrase was “now tainted” by association with the “woke left”.
A document circulated in support of the motion highlighted findings from a study by An Coimisiún Toghcháin. The research indicated that 32% of Irish voters identify as centre-right, while 27% consider themselves centre-left.
The same study showed that 55% of voters perceive Fine Gael as centre-right, with 15% viewing the party as on the left.
The motion also argued that by claiming the centre-right label, the party would be able to prevent any potential growth of far-right populism.
However, the motion was ultimately shot down by the party’s executive.
Fine Gael has long described itself as a party of the “progressive centre.”