IngentaConnect Ireland: Economy, Politics and Government

Abstract:

The two largest parties, the ruling Fianna F?il led by Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Bertie Ahern, and Fine Gael, have very little ideological difference between them. Effectively, Ireland has two large center-right parties which never co-operate. This being the case, ideological issues are left to the small or single issue parties and independents. Consequently, much of the debate in Irish politics concerns local issues and policy formation rather than fundamental reviews of the political consensus. There have been few major contentious national issues in a country where the economy is booming. However, although the Celtic tiger's growth has been helped by considerable support from the European Union (EU), Irish voters showed their uneasiness with EU expansion in the June 2001 referendum on the Nice Treaty. They became even more irate when the EU decided to ignore the verdict and rejected calls for a renegotiation of enlargement.

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