Editing Fianna Fáil (section)

==History==
{{Main|History of Fianna Fáil}}
[[File:President De Valera and his Cabinet (Poster).jpg|thumb|left|1932 Fianna Fáil poster featuring many of the founding members of the party such as [[Éamon de Valera|de Valera]], [[Seán Lemass|Lemass]], [[Frank Aiken|Aiken]] and [[Gerald Boland|Boland]]]] 
[[File:Fianna Fáil logo circa 1970s, 1980s.png|thumb|left|Logo of Fianna Fáil in the 1970s and 1980s]]
Fianna Fáil was founded by [[Éamon de Valera]], a former leader of [[Sinn Féin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/html/features/devalera.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040208005923/http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/html/features/devalera.shtml|url-status=dead|title=Notable New Yorkers&nbsp;– Éamon de Valera|archive-date=8 February 2004}}</ref> The previous year, de Valera proposed a motion calling for elected members to be allowed to take their seats in [[Dáil Éireann]] if and when the controversial [[Oath of Allegiance (Ireland)|Oath of Allegiance]] was removed. It failed to pass at the Sinn Féin [[Ardfheis|Ard Fheis]], leading de Valera and a number of other members, including most of Sinn Féin's parliamentary talent, to split from Sinn Féin.<ref>''[[The Times]]'', Irish Republican Split. Search For Basis of Cooperation 13 March 1926</ref> His new party adopted its name on 2 April of the same year. While it was also opposed to the [[Anglo-Irish Treaty|Treaty settlement]], it rejected abstentionism, instead aiming to republicanise the [[Irish Free State]] from within. Fianna Fáil's platform of economic [[autarky]] had appeal among the farmers, working-class people and the poor, while alienating more affluent classes.<ref>[[Peter Mair]] and Liam Weeks, "The Party System," in ''Politics in the Republic of Ireland'', ed. John Coakley and Michael Gallagher, 4th ed. (New York: Routledge, 2004), p. 140</ref> It largely pre-empted voters of the aforementioned groups from the [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]] (with its almost identical economic and social policy) following its entry into the Dáil in 1927.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Allen|first=Kieran|url=|title=Fianna Fáil and Irish Labour: 1926 to the Present|publisher=Pluto Press|year=1997|isbn=978-0-7453-0865-4|language=en}}</ref> Fianna Fáil would go on to style themselves for several decades as "the real Labour Party".<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Rouse|first1=Paul|url=|title=Making the Difference?: The Irish Labour Party 1912–2012|last2=Daly|first2=Paul|last3=O'Brien|first3=Ronan|date=2012-04-30|publisher=Gill & Macmillan Ltd|isbn=978-1-84889-970-4|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Downey|first=James|url=|title=Lenihan: His Life and Loyalties|publisher=New Island Books|year=1998|isbn=978-1-874597-34-6|location=Ireland|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Allen|first=Kieran|url=|title=Fianna Fail and the Irish Labour Movement 1926–1982: From Populism to Corporatism|publisher=Trinity College Dublin|year=1993|language=en}}</ref>

The split within Sinn Féin on the Anglo-Irish Treaty caused there to be pro-Treaty and anti-Treaty Sinn Féin running in the 1922 general election.There was a clear victory for the pro-Treaty Sinn Féin, which went on to form Cumann na nGaedheal. Anti-Treaty Sinn Féin competed in the subsequent 1923 election as 'Republicans'. The split between what would become Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael possibly has deeper roots than the Treaty, however, and reflects a deeper tension within Irish nationalism that was obvious throughout the 19th century. There was a difference between constitutional Irish nationalism and a more violent Gaelic nationalism, which in turn, according to genetic evidence, could be based on patterns of migration from as far back as the 12th century.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Byrne |first=Kevin P. |last2=O'Malley |first2=Eoin |date=2012-11-01 |title=Politics with Hidden Bases: Unearthing the Deep Roots of Party Systems |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-856X.2011.00478.x |journal=The British Journal of Politics and International Relations |language=EN |volume=14 |issue=4 |pages=613–629 |doi=10.1111/j.1467-856X.2011.00478.x |issn=1369-1481}}</ref> 

Cumann na nGaedheal sought to exploit the notion that Fianna Fáil was a party in thrall to communists. During the 1932 general election campaign, Cumann na nGaedheal declared in a newspaper advert that "the gunmen and Communists are voting for Fianna Fáil today – vote for the Government party." However, Fianna Fáil won the election,<ref>{{cite news|last=McGreevy|first=Ronan|title=Class warfare and shadowy gunmen: How the 2020 election echoes 1932|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/class-warfare-and-shadowy-gunmen-how-the-2020-election-echoes-1932-1.4163679|access-date=2021-11-23|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=18 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518122141/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/class-warfare-and-shadowy-gunmen-how-the-2020-election-echoes-1932-1.4163679|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The 'State will Perish': Comparing the Elections of 1932 and 2020 – The Irish Story|url=https://www.theirishstory.com/2020/02/12/the-state-will-perish-comparing-the-elections-of-1932-and-2020/#.YZ1-6i2l2Rs|access-date=2021-11-23|language=en-GB|archive-date=23 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123235812/https://www.theirishstory.com/2020/02/12/the-state-will-perish-comparing-the-elections-of-1932-and-2020/#.YZ1-6i2l2Rs|url-status=live}}</ref> forming its first government on 9 March 1932. It was in power for 61 of the 79 years between then and the election of 2011. Its longest continuous period in office was its first, 15 years and 11 months (March 1932&nbsp;– February 1948). Its longest single period out of office in the 20th century was four years and four months (March 1973&nbsp;– July 1977). All of the party's leaders have served as [[Taoiseach]].<ref name="britannica">{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Leaders-of-Ireland-1935162|title=Leaders of Ireland|website=Encyclopædia Britannica|language=en|access-date=2020-02-20|archive-date=31 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731050515/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Leaders-of-Ireland-1935162|url-status=live}}</ref>

The party's most dominant era was the 41-year period between 1932 and 1973, when party leaders Éamon de Valera, [[Seán Lemass]] and [[Jack Lynch]] served as Taoiseach in an almost unbroken chain save for two three-year stints by [[John A. Costello]]. De Valera's reign is acknowledged for having successfully guided Ireland through World War II unscathed but is criticised for leaving Ireland in economic and cultural stagnation.<ref name="Ferriter, 2007">Ferriter, ''Judging Dev: A Reassessment of the Life and Legacy of Éamon de Valera'' (2007), {{ISBN|1-904890-28-8}}.</ref> His successors such as Lemass however were able to turn around Ireland's economic fortunes as well as primed the country for entry into the [[European Economic Community]], later the [[European Union]].<ref name="britannica"/>
[[File:Charles Haughey, 1990.jpg|thumb|left|Charles Haughey, party leader from 1979 to 1992.]]

Fianna Fáil's fortunes began to falter in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1970 the [[Arms Crisis]] threatened to split the entire party in two when Fianna Fáil cabinet ministers [[Charles Haughey]] and [[Neil Blaney]] were dismissed by Jack Lynch after being accused of seeking to provide arms to the newly emergent [[Provisional Irish Republican Army]].<ref>{{cite news  |title=All you need to know about the 1970 Arms Crisis  |url=https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2020/0505/1136524-arms-crisis-debacle-1970-haughey-blaney-lynch/  |access-date=22 March 2021  |archive-date=18 March 2021  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318054518/https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2020/0505/1136524-arms-crisis-debacle-1970-haughey-blaney-lynch/  |url-status=live  }}</ref> Factional infighting over Northern Ireland, economics and the "moral issues" such as the legalization of divorce, abortion, and contraception plagued the party in this era and grew particularly intense when Charles Haughey later became party leader.<ref name="britannica"/> Under Haughey, Fianna Fáil lost both the [[1981 Irish general election|1981 general election]] and [[November 1982 Irish general election|November 1982 general election]] to [[Garret FitzGerald]]'s Fine Gael during a particularly chaotic time in Ireland's political and economic history. Numerous failed internal attempts to oust Haughey as leader of the party culminated in the most significant split in the party's history when a large portion of the membership walked out to create the [[Progressive Democrats (Ireland)|Progressive Democrats]] in 1985, under the leadership of Haughey archrival [[Desmond O'Malley]].<ref name="britannica"/> Haughey was forced to resign as Taoiseach and party leader in 1992 following revelations about his role in [[Irish phone tapping scandal|a phone tapping scandal]].<ref>{{cite news |date=30 January 1992 |title=PDs Force Taoiseach's Resignation 1992 |url=https://www.rte.ie/archives/2017/0126/847880-taoiseach-charles-haughey-to-resign/ |work=[[RTÉ]] |access-date=22 March 2021 |archive-date=13 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413070205/https://www.rte.ie/archives/2017/0126/847880-taoiseach-charles-haughey-to-resign/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Although the two parties had seemed poised to be bitter enemies owing to the personal conflicts between the memberships, from 1989 onwards Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats served repeatedly in coalition governments together, helping to stabilise Fianna Fáil. In 1994 Fianna Fáil came under the new leadership of Haughey protégé [[Bertie Ahern]], who also became Taoiseach in 1997. Under Ahern, Fianna Fáil was able to claim credit for helping to broker the [[Good Friday Agreement]] in 1998 which began the peace process in Northern Ireland, as well the economic upswing caused by the [[Celtic Tiger]] which saw Ireland's economy boom during the 2000s.<ref name="britannica"/> However, this momentum came to a sharp and sudden halt following two events. Firstly, Ahern was forced to resign as Taoiseach and left the party in 2008 following revelations made in the [[Mahon Tribunal]] that Ahern had accepted money from property developers.<ref name="britannica"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Neild |first=Barry |date=2 April 2008 |title=Bertie Ahern resigns from Fianna Fáil |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/mar/24/bertie-ahern-resigns-fianna-fail |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=22 March 2021 |archive-date=13 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113171011/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/mar/24/bertie-ahern-resigns-fianna-fail |url-status=live }}</ref> Secondly, the party, which was still in government under a new leader and Taoiseach [[Brian Cowen]], was held responsible for the effects of the [[post-2008 Irish economic downturn]].<ref name=liquidate /> The party's popularity crashed: an opinion poll on 27 February 2009 indicated that only 10% of voters were satisfied with the Government's performance.<ref name="10% satisfied with Govt performance">{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0226/poll.html|title=10% satisfied with Govt performance|date=26 February 2009|access-date=26 February 2009|publisher=[[RTÉ]]| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090228055803/http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0226/poll.html| archive-date= 28 February 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref>

In the [[2011 Irish general election|2011 general election]], it suffered the worst defeat of a sitting government in the history of the Irish state.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/recapturing-relevance-a-huge-challenge-for-ff-1.560434 |title=Recapturing relevance a huge challenge for FF |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=1 May 2011 |access-date=4 October 2015 |archive-date=5 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005055455/http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/recapturing-relevance-a-huge-challenge-for-ff-1.560434 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="The National UAE">{{cite news |newspaper=[[The National (Abu Dhabi)|The National]] |url=http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/europe/irish-government-teeters-on-the-brink |title=Irish government teeters on the brink |first=Nuala |last=Haughey |date=23 November 2010 |access-date=12 October 2015 |archive-date=6 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106102622/http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/europe/irish-government-teeters-on-the-brink |url-status=live }}</ref> This loss was described as "historic" in its proportions<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2011/0301/1224291075967.html |title=Recapturing relevance a huge challenge for FF |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=1 May 2011 |access-date=24 June 2013 |archive-date=3 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303053110/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2011/0301/1224291075967.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and "unthinkable".<ref name=liquidate>{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/angry-electorate-coldly-voted-to-liquidate-fianna-f%C3%A1il-1.583810 |title=Angry electorate coldly voted to liquidate Fianna Fáil |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=28 February 2011 |access-date=24 June 2013 |archive-date=5 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005222741/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/angry-electorate-coldly-voted-to-liquidate-fianna-f%C3%A1il-1.583810 |url-status=live }}</ref> The party sank from being the largest in the Dáil to the third-largest,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=doEjDgAAQBAJ&pg=PA209|title=A Conservative Revolution?: Electoral Change in Twenty-first-century Ireland|first1=Michael Marsh (Ph|last1=D.)|first2=David M.|last2=Farrell|first3=Gail|last3=McElroy|date=6 September 2017|publisher=Oxford University Press|via=Google Books|isbn=9780198744030|access-date=6 September 2019|archive-date=21 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521091306/https://books.google.com/books?id=doEjDgAAQBAJ&pg=PA209|url-status=live}}</ref> losing 58 of its 78 seats.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-apcCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA87|title=Western Europe 2015–2016|first=Wayne C.|last=Thompson|date=13 August 2015|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|via=Google Books|isbn=9781475818857|access-date=6 September 2019|archive-date=21 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521091210/https://books.google.com/books?id=-apcCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA87|url-status=live}}</ref> This broke 79 consecutive years of Fianna Fáil being the largest single party in the Dáil. That election took place with [[Micheál Martin]] as leader, as Cowen had resigned as party leader in January 2011, although retained his role as Taoiseach until the election.<ref>{{cite news |last=McGee |first=Harry |date=22 January 2011 |title=Cowen resigns as FF leader, but to remain as Taoiseach |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/cowen-resigns-as-ff-leader-but-to-remain-as-taoiseach-1.870518 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |access-date=22 March 2021 |archive-date=14 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314184228/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/cowen-resigns-as-ff-leader-but-to-remain-as-taoiseach-1.870518 |url-status=live }}</ref> Cowen's premiership was sharply criticised in the media, with ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' describing Cowen's tenure as Taoiseach as "a dismal failure"<ref name=stepaside>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article5537732.ece|title=Take control or step aside, Mr. Cowen|work=[[The Sunday Times]]|date=18 January 2009|access-date=26 April 2010|location=London|first=Ed|last=Hawkins|archive-date=26 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226124713/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and in 2011 the ''[[Irish Independent]]'' calling Cowen the "worst Taoiseach in the history of the State."<ref name=worstweek>{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/the-worst-week-for-the-worst-taoiseach-in-the-states-history-2507517.html |title=The worst week for the worst Taoiseach in the State's history |work=[[Irish Independent]] |date=23 January 2011 |access-date=23 January 2011 |archive-date=1 August 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801215500/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/the-worst-week-for-the-worst-taoiseach-in-the-states-history-2507517.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Since 2011===
[[File:Logo of the Fianna Fáil.svg|thumb|left|Party logo until 2024]]
Martin continued to lead Fianna Fáil past 2011; In the [[2016 Irish general election|2016 general election]] Martin's Fianna Fáil made a moderate recovery while Fine Gael retained control of the government as a [[minority government]], made possible by a [[confidence and supply]] agreement with Fianna Fáíl.<ref>{{cite news |last=McDonald |first=Henry |date=3 May 2016 |title=Ireland to have minority Fine Gael government after deal agreed |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/03/ireland-to-have-minority-fine-gael-government-after-deal-agreed |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=29 January 2021 |archive-date=23 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323200610/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/03/ireland-to-have-minority-fine-gael-government-after-deal-agreed |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2018 the party was divided internally over how to handle that year's [[Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland|referendum on the Eighth Amendment]], the provision in the Irish constitution which forbade [[abortion]]. A significant portion of both the parliamentary party and the ordinary membership favoured a No vote, which would keep abortion illegal for non–life-threatening pregnancies. Leader Micheál Martin signalled his own desire for a Yes vote,<ref>{{cite news |last=Finn |first=Christina |date=15 September 2018 |title=One year on: Advice given to FF on their abortion referendum position was ignored – but will they learn from it? |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/fianna-fail-abortion-referendum-2-4236367-Sep2018/ |access-date=22 March 2021 |archive-date=21 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321001439/https://www.thejournal.ie/fianna-fail-abortion-referendum-2-4236367-Sep2018/ |url-status=live }}</ref> but was unable to bring the party under one stance, and ultimately more than half of Fianna Fáil's TDs campaigned for a No vote.<ref>{{cite news |date=3 May 2018 |title=Majority of Fianna Fail TDs gather to call on voters to say 'No' to repeal of 8th |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-30840832.html |work=[[Irish Examiner]] |access-date=22 March 2021 |archive-date=13 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813003724/https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-30840832.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="l294">{{cite news | last=Bardon | first=Sarah | title=Photo shows extent of Fianna Fáil party backing for No vote | newspaper=The Irish Times | date=2018-05-03 | url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/photo-shows-extent-of-fianna-fail-party-backing-for-no-vote-1.3482017 | access-date=2024-10-10}}</ref> On polling day the Yes side won, 66% to 33%.

After the [[2020 Irish general election|2020 general election]], for the first time in history, Fianna Fáil entered into a coalition government with its traditional rival Fine Gael, as well as the [[Green Party (Ireland)|Green Party]], ending its longest period out of government since its formation. Under the agreement, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin served as [[Taoiseach]] for the first half of the parliamentary term.<ref>{{cite news |last=Carroll |first=Rory |date=15 June 2020 |title=Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Greens agree deal to form Irish coalition |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/15/fine-gael-fianna-fail-and-greens-agree-deal-to-form-irish-coalition |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=29 January 2021 |archive-date=3 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203032423/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/15/fine-gael-fianna-fail-and-greens-agree-deal-to-form-irish-coalition |url-status=live }}</ref> That same year a number of Fianna Fáil members were involved in the "[[Golfgate]]" scandal, an event that ultimately led to the resignation of Fianna Fáil deputy leader [[Dara Calleary]].<ref>{{cite news |date=24 August 2020 |title=Dara Calleary resigns as deputy leader of Fianna Fáíl |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40036886.html |work=Irish Examiner |access-date=24 August 2020 |archive-date=24 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824095159/https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40036886.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2021 Fianna Fáil suffered what a number of sources suggested might have been the single worst result in its history when the party polled extremely poorly in the [[2021 Dublin Bay South by-election]].<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=ToghannEire |number=1413496729484206084 |title=We believe this *could* be Fianna Fáil's worst election result since their first election in 1927.}}</ref><ref name="Taoiseach not concerned">{{cite news |last=McGee |first=Harry |date=9 July 2021 |title=Taoiseach 'not concerned' for his leadership after FF byelection performance |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/taoiseach-not-concerned-for-his-leadership-after-ff-byelection-performance-1.4616259 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |access-date=9 July 2021 |quote=Fianna Fáil's worst-ever electoral performance has raised serious questions about the future leadership of Mr Martin, a number of its TDs have said..."I do believe we need to ask the real, tough questions and that includes the leadership", said one TD. "It is an appropriate question to ask now in the light of the worst election in the party's history." |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183605/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/taoiseach-not-concerned-for-his-leadership-after-ff-byelection-performance-1.4616259 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=9 July 2021 |title=Taoiseach is "not worried" about party leadership after Fianna Fail suffer worst ever election result |url=https://www.corkbeo.ie/news/local-news/taoiseach-not-worried-party-leadership-21017003 |access-date=9 July 2021 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709170857/https://www.corkbeo.ie/news/local-news/taoiseach-not-worried-party-leadership-21017003 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Politico">{{cite news |last=Pogatchnik |first=Shawn |date=9 July 2021 |title=Housing crisis spurs opposition win in Irish by-election |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/ireland-bacik-dublin-bay-south-varadkar-fine-gael-fianna-fail-labour/ |work=[[politico.eu]] |access-date=9 July 2021 |archive-date=11 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711131238/https://www.politico.eu/article/ireland-bacik-dublin-bay-south-varadkar-fine-gael-fianna-fail-labour/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The result prompted [[Jim O'Callaghan]] and [[Cathal Crowe]] to question whether Martin should lead the party into its next general election.<ref>{{cite news |last=Duffy |first=Rónán |date=9 July 2021 |title=Ivana Bacik promises to be 'strong, progressive, woman's voice' as she's elected to the Dáil |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/dublin-bay-south-ivana-bacik-5490843-Jul2021/ |access-date=9 July 2021 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709210301/https://www.thejournal.ie/dublin-bay-south-ivana-bacik-5490843-Jul2021/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="RTE Cowen">{{cite news |date=10 July 2021 |title=Cowen calls for FF party meeting to discuss by-election result |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2021/0710/1234305-fianna-fail/ |work=[[RTÉ News]] |access-date=10 July 2021 |archive-date=11 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711025357/https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2021/0710/1234305-fianna-fail/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In February 2023, former leader Bertie Ahern rejoined the party, having left in 2012.<ref>{{cite news |last=O'Connell |first=Hugh |date=8 February 2023 |title=Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern rejoins Fianna Fáil more than 10 years after quitting the party |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/former-taoiseach-bertie-ahern-rejoins-fianna-fail-more-than-10-years-after-quitting-the-party-42333638.html |work=[[Irish Independent]] |location= |access-date=}}</ref> Over the course of 2024, several sitting Fianna Fáil councillors and former party members left to join the right-wing [[Independent Ireland]] party.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Coughlan |first1=Jack |last2=McCarron |first2=Mark |last3=McDonald|first3=Kate |date=1 June 2024 |title=Beyond the banner: who was elected for Independent Ireland? |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/primetime/2024/0615/1454850-beyond-the-banner-who-was-elected-for-independent-ireland/ |work=[[RTÉ News]] |location= |access-date=10 November 2024}} </ref>

Following the [[2024 Irish general election]], Fianna Fáil became the largest party in the Dáil and led the creation of a government.