How can Fine Gael win back northern nationalists

[beardyboy]

I think it is fair to say that FG are not liked, I will not go stronger than that, among the vast majority of northern nationalists.

I have however noticed some posters here who sentiments I believe are broadly sound supporting them, I find this puzzling.

Can any of those who support FG tell me why they are pro-nationalist and not, as I believe, unionist in sentiment?

[adamirer]

Eh... I assume Northern you mean as opposed to 'Southern'. Why should FG care what Northern nationalists think? Any that have votes in the Republic that place the whole 'national' question above justice, health, the economy etc will vote SF or FF. The Northern issue isn't that big a deal for the core silent majority here. Sadly nor is corruption, health service, etc as witnessed by election results, but thats another debate.

[Respvblica]

It is very important for FG, as a party that aspires to govern to have the respect of northerners, especially given the current arrangements up there. It might be argued superficially from an electoral point of view that FG need not worry or care about the north however such an analysis fails to understand the real motives of an electorate which actually chooses between FF and FG on a range of issues such as economic, cultural, evironmental, quality of life and national identity. Thats the nature of our voting decision-making process in a representative democracy. The importance of FGs success in the future is opposing FF on an equal footing. They have to be very strong were there is general consensus in the electorate. Those two areas are the north and the economy. In the last election FG were passively with the consensus rather than being active. Thats a pity because the current consensus on both those issues were FG inspired in the 1980s.

With regard to FGs image as a unionist party among the north, I suppose that there is a bit of black propaganda there, no doubt helped by FGs lack of a clear vision on the issue in recent years. While it should be noted that Enda Kenny has given Bertie Ahern 100% support in relation to things on the north, there is a still an impression of indifference(not unionism) by some others in the party. Better communication is needed. A bit of vision too.

[meriwether]

I think they should organise up North.
Now, in fairness, they should probably organise in Kildare first, but you have to start somewhere.
We would get approx 0.01% of the vote, but again, you have to start somewhere.

[White Horse]

Can any of those who support FG tell me why they are pro-nationalist and not, as I believe, unionist in sentiment?

I'm not sure FG are "pro-nationalist" in the sense of supporting nationalists in their conflict against unionists. The party has moved on from the idea of a turf war. This places FG in a different place than Republicans as they are still engaged in a conflict (now peaceful) with unionism and view victory as their goal.

FG, however, believe in the importance of unifying Irish people in a 32 county state.

I am not sure why this "unionist" tag persists. No-one I have ever spoken to in FG wishes Ireland to rejoin the union or argues that unification is undesirable.

[adamirer]

(and I'm a neutral) FG did make a big deal of its pro-nationalist (as opposed to republic) credentials under Bruton, but it was a dead fish. There are much bigger issues for FG than how liked or not FG are amongst NI people. All the bull************************ unionist/blueshirt /west brit slaggings that go on won't ever go - theres no point fighting it.

Any educated open minded person knows the Cosgrove, Fitzgerald and Bruton each made landmark contributions to the process. Those that pretend it was all Gerry & Bertie have their own agenda.

[seanad voter]

FG should sort their heads out on the so-called "National Question" and, like others, I'd welcome them organising in the North.

They sometimes send out conflicting messages to northerners as when their presidential candidate Mary Banotti attacked FF on Questions & Answers for "having to go to Northern Ireland for a candidate" (she meant Mary McAleese) while forgetting about former SDLP man Austin Currie, the FG candidate who ran against Mary Robinson and Brian Lenihan in 1990, and John Cushnahan, the former Alliance Party leader who became an FG MEP in Munster.

[meriwether]

FG should sort their heads out on the so-called "National Question" and, like others, I'd welcome them organising in the North.

They sometimes send out conflicting messages to northerners as when their presidential candidate Mary Banotti attacked FF on Questions & Answers for "having to go to Northern Ireland for a candidate" (she meant Mary McAleese) while forgetting about former SDLP man Austin Currie, the FG candidate who ran against Mary Robinson and Brian Lenihan in 1990, and John Cushnahan, the former Alliance Party leader who became an FG MEP in Munster.

Are you aware that FF attacked FG for going Northern to find a Presidental candidate in 1990?

[Rocky]

I think it is fair to say that FG are not liked, I will not go stronger than that, among the vast majority of northern nationalists.

I have however noticed some posters here who sentiments I believe are broadly sound supporting them, I find this puzzling.

Can any of those who support FG tell me why they are pro-nationalist and not, as I believe, unionist in sentiment?

Anyone who believes FG is a Unionist party clearly knows nothing about FG or doesn't understand the word Unionist. If FG were a Unionist party, then they would want Ireland to rejoin the UK. They don't therefore they're not a Unionist party.

Regarding NI FG supports a United Ireland through consent as outlined by the GFA the same as FF, SF, Lab, GP, PDs and the SDLP, so they are in the same position regarding the North and Nationalism as these parties because they all have the same position on the North. FG was also the party who invented the idea of a UI by consent, while we’re on the issue, so essentially all these parties have adopted our position.

Now there may be a case of FG not making their position on NI clear enough. However that's very difficult to do because their position is the exact same as FF and every other Southern Party so you can't attack anyone else or make an issue out of it and most Irish people living in the ROI don’t care that much about NI.

Finally FG has strong links to the SDLP and seems to be quite close to the Party, so I would argue with your attitude that FG is not liked by Northern Nationalists.

[seanad voter]

Yes, meriwether, as I was working on the Robinson campaign. And incidentally when I ran for the Seanad myself (TCD constituency), I was asked by BOTH FF and FG supporters at a hustings in Trinty whether, if elected, I would move down from Derry to Dublin ! That's a measure of the partitionist thinking still about.