Editing Fine Gael (section)

===Social policies===
Fine Gael adopted the "Just Society" policy statement in the 1960s, based on principles of social justice and equality. It was created by the emerging social democratic wing of the party, led by [[Declan Costello]]. The ideas expressed in the policy statement had a significant influence on the party in the years to come.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.askaboutireland.ie/narrative-notes/just-society/|title=Just Society|work=AskAboutIreland.ie|access-date=9 August 2019|archive-date=9 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809105626/http://www.askaboutireland.ie/narrative-notes/just-society/|url-status=live}}</ref>

While Fine Gael was traditionally [[Social conservatism|socially conservative]] for most of the twentieth century due to the conservative Christian ethos of Irish society during this time, its members are variously influenced by [[social liberalism]], [[social democracy]] and [[Christian democracy]] on issues of social policy. Under Garret FitzGerald, the party's more socially liberal, or pluralist, wing gained prominence. Proposals to allow [[divorce]] were put to referendum by two Fine Gael–led governments, in 1986 under FitzGerald,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://electionsireland.org/results/referendum/refdetail.cfm?ref=1986R |title=Referendum 26 June 1986 Dissolution of Marriage |work=ElectionsIreland.org |access-date=25 February 2011 |archive-date=23 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110223141731/http://electionsireland.org//results/referendum/refdetail.cfm?ref=1986R |url-status=live }}</ref> and in 1995 under John Bruton, passing very narrowly on this second attempt.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://electionsireland.org/results/referendum/refresult.cfm?ref=1995R |title=Referendum 24 November 1995 Dissolution of Marriage |work=ElectionsIreland.org |date=24 November 1995 |access-date=4 June 2010 |archive-date=21 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221171539/http://electionsireland.org/results/referendum/refresult.cfm?ref=1995R |url-status=live }}</ref> Its modern supporters have shown a preference for [[Postmaterialism|postmaterialist]] values.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sinnott|first=Richard|url=|title=Irish Voters Decide: Voting Behaviour in Elections and Referendums Since 1918|date=1995|publisher=Manchester University Press|isbn=978-0-7190-4037-5|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Moreno|first=Alejandro|url=|title=Political Cleavages: Issues, Parties, And The Consolidation Of Democracy|date=2019-06-04|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-000-30717-7|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Whelan|first=Christopher T.|url=|title=Values and Social Change in Ireland|date=1994|publisher=Gill & Macmillan|isbn=978-0-7171-1947-9|language=en}}</ref>

====LGBT+ issues====
[[File:Members of Fine Gael at Dublin Pride parade 2016.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Members of Fine Gael participating in the 2016 [[Dublin Pride]] parade]]
Fine Gael supported [[Recognition of same-sex unions in Ireland|civil unions]] for same-sex couples from 2003, voting for the [[Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010|Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2010]]. In 2012, the party approved a motion at its [[Ardfheis]] to prioritise the consideration of [[same-sex marriage]] in the upcoming constitutional convention. In 2013, party leader and Taoiseach Enda Kenny declared his support for same-sex marriage. The Fine Gael–led government held a referendum on the subject on 22 May 2015. The referendum passed, with the electorate voting to extend full marriage rights to same-sex couples, with 62.1% in favour and 37.9% opposed.

In 2015, months before the [[Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland|marriage equality referendum]], Leo Varadkar became the first Irish government minister to come out as gay.<ref name="The Irish Times">{{cite web|work=Fine Gael|title=Leo Varadkar|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/leo-varadkar-i-am-a-gay-man-minister-says-1.2070189/|access-date=24 February 2019|archive-date=1 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301135752/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/leo-varadkar-i-am-a-gay-man-minister-says-1.2070189|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2019, former [[Rose of Tralee (festival)|Rose of Tralee]] [[Maria Walsh (politician)|Maria Walsh]], was elected as a Fine Gael MEP for the Midlands-Northwest constituency in the [[2019 European Parliament election]], running alongside [[Mairéad McGuinness]] MEP. Walsh was Fine Gael's first openly lesbian candidate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://evoke.ie/2018/05/17/life-style/maria-walsh-on-being-the-gay-rose|title=Maria Walsh on being the 'gay' Rose: 'Some people can never know that part of me'|last=Zaw|first=Yolanda|date=17 May 2018|website=evoke.ie|access-date=2 February 2020|archive-date=2 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202182120/https://evoke.ie/2018/05/17/life-style/maria-walsh-on-being-the-gay-rose|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/11093064/Lesbian-Rose-of-Tralee-row-Meet-the-first-lesbian-winner-of-Irelands-beauty-pageant.html|title=Meet Ireland's first lesbian winner of the Rose of Tralee 'beauty pageant'|last=Capon|first=Felicity|date=2014-09-15|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=2020-02-02|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235|archive-date=2 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202182106/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/11093064/Lesbian-Rose-of-Tralee-row-Meet-the-first-lesbian-winner-of-Irelands-beauty-pageant.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Fine Gael has an LGBT+ section, Fine Gael LGBT, and in 2017, Leo Varadkar became the first Taoiseach to march in [[Dublin Pride]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sheahan |first=Fionnán |date=26 June 2017 |title=It's not enough to be the example, Leo, you have to lead by example too |url=https://www.independent.ie/opinion/its-not-enough-to-be-the-example-leo-you-have-to-lead-by-example-too/35864613.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927120959/https://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/fionnan-sheahan/its-not-enough-to-be-the-example-leo-you-have-to-lead-by-example-too-35864613.html |archive-date=27 September 2019 |access-date=27 September 2019 |work=Irish Independent}}</ref>

==== Abortion ====
In 1983, the [[Eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland|Eighth Amendment to the Constitution]], which proposed to protect the life of the unborn, was put to a referendum. Fine Gael initially supported the proposal, but then came out in opposition to it. Under leader and [[Taoiseach]] [[Garret FitzGerald]], the party campaigned for a 'No' vote, arguing, on the advice of the [[Attorney General of Ireland|Attorney General]] [[Peter Sutherland]], that the wording, which had been drafted under the previous government, was ambiguous and open to many interpretations.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Muldowney |first=Mary |year=2013 |title=Breaking the silence on abortion : the 1983 referendum campaign |journal=History Ireland |publisher=Wordwell |volume=21 |issue=2 |pages=42–45 |issn=0791-8224 |jstor=41827160}}</ref> Its stance conflicted with that of the [[Pro-Life Amendment Campaign (PLAC)|Pro-Life Amendment Campaign]] (PLAC) and Catholic bishops, and [[Fianna Fáil]], the largest party in the State at the time, but then in opposition. The amendment resulted in the addition of Article 40.3.3° to the Constitution, giving the unborn child a qualified<ref>Through the words "as far as practicable". ''Attorney General v X'', [1992] IESC 1; [1992] 1 IR 1. Also reflected in ''A, B, C v Ireland''.</ref> equal right to life to that of the mother.<ref>{{Cite ISB|title=[[Eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland|Eighth Amendment of the Constitution Act 1983]]|year=1983|number=8|type=ca|signedby=President [[Patrick Hillery]]|date=7 October 1983|access-date=16 October 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927081342/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1983/ca/8/enacted/en/html|archive-date=27 September 2015}}</ref>

In 1992, in the [[X Case]], the [[Supreme Court of Ireland|Supreme Court]] held that a risk to the life of  woman from suicide was a permissible ground under Article 40.3.3° for abortion. In 2002, Fine Gael campaigned against the [[Twenty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2001|Twenty-fifth Amendment to the Constitution]], which proposed to remove [[suicide]] as a grounds for granting a termination of a pregnancy. The amendment was rejected by Irish voters.<ref>{{cite web|title = 2002 referendum|url = http://electionsireland.org/results/referendum/refdetail.cfm?ref=200225R/|website = Elections Ireland.org|access-date = 14 December 2015|archive-date = 22 December 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151222074718/http://electionsireland.org/results/referendum/refdetail.cfm?ref=200225R%2F|url-status = live}}</ref>

In 2013 it proposed, and supported, the enactment of the [[Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013]], which implemented in statute law the ''X case'' ruling of the Supreme Court, granting access to a termination of a pregnancy where there is a real and substantial risk to the life, not the health, of the mother, including a threat of suicide. Five TDs and two Senators, including Minister of State [[Lucinda Creighton]], lost the Fine Gael party whip for voting against the legislation. Creighton later left Fine Gael to found [[Renua]].<ref>{{cite news |last=McGreevy |first=Ronan |date=1 February 2018 |title=Creighton attacks media over 'progressive consensus' on abortion |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/creighton-attacks-media-over-progressive-consensus-on-abortion-1.3376514 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301201500/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/creighton-attacks-media-over-progressive-consensus-on-abortion-1.3376514 |archive-date=1 March 2019 |access-date=1 March 2019 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite ISB|title=[[Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013]]|year=2013|number=35|archive-date=4 March 2016|access-date=16 October 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082506/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2013/act/35/enacted/en/html}}</ref> The Act was criticised by various [[anti-abortion]] groups<ref>{{cite news|title = Irish abortion bill becomes law|work = BBC News|date = 30 July 2013|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-23507923/|access-date = 14 December 2015|archive-date = 5 November 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151105192138/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-23507923|url-status = live}}</ref> and Catholic bishops, but supported by a majority of the electorate in opinion polls, with many indicating they wished to see a more liberal law on abortion.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sheehy |first=Clodagh |date=9 August 2013 |title=Abortion law doesn't go far enough – poll |url=http://www.herald.ie/news/abortion-law-doesnt-go-far-enough-poll-29486734.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222101156/http://www.herald.ie/news/abortion-law-doesnt-go-far-enough-poll-29486734.html |archive-date=22 December 2015 |access-date=14 December 2015 |work=Herald.ie}}</ref>

Enda Kenny's [[Government of the 32nd Dáil|Fine Gael–led minority government]] took office after the 2016 election with a programme which promised a randomly selected [[Citizens' Assembly (Ireland)|Citizens' Assembly]] to report on possible changes to the Eighth Amendment, which would be considered by an Oireachtas committee, to whose report the government would respond officially in debates in both houses of the Oireachtas. Fine Gael Oireachtas members were promised a free vote on the issue. [[Leo Varadkar]] succeeded Enda Kenny as Taoiseach on 14 June 2017 and promised to hold a referendum on abortion in 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://inews.co.uk/essentials/news/world/irelands-new-leader-announces-abortion-referendum-despite-popes-visit/|title=Ireland's new leader announces abortion referendum despite Pope visit|last=McDonald|first=Karl|date=15 June 2017|work=[[i (British newspaper)|i]]|access-date=4 July 2017|archive-date=8 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708053901/https://inews.co.uk/essentials/news/world/irelands-new-leader-announces-abortion-referendum-despite-popes-visit/|url-status=live}}</ref> Several Fine Gael TDs, notably Health Minister [[Simon Harris]] and [[Kate O'Connell]], were prominent supporters of the pro-choice side before and during the referendum. While the party was divided, the majority of Fine Gael TDs and Senators, as well as most members, were in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment. A [[Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland|referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment]] was held on 25 May 2018 and was approved by 66.4% of voters.

==== Drug policies ====
The party has traditionally held a strong stance against the decriminalisation of drugs. In 2007, Fine Gael's leader at the time Enda Kenny called for drug and alcohol testing to be performed in schools, saying cocaine usage at schools was "rampant" in some areas.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kelly |first=Olivia |date=5 February 2007 |title=FG leader plans drugs and alcohol testing in schools |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/fg-leader-plans-drugs-and-alcohol-testing-in-schools-1.1193526 |access-date=16 October 2024 |newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref>

At the party's 2014 Ard Fheis, a proposed motion to support the legalisation of cannabis was voted down by the membership.<ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Connell |first=Hugh |date=1 March 2014 |title=Fine Gael says 'yes' to same-sex marriage but 'no' to legalising cannabis |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/alan-shatter-fine-gael-cannabis-same-sex-marriage-1339638-Mar2014/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205224107/https://www.thejournal.ie/alan-shatter-fine-gael-cannabis-same-sex-marriage-1339638-Mar2014/ |archive-date=5 December 2020 |access-date=24 December 2020 |work=The Journal}}</ref>

In 2016, the Fine Gael health minister [[James Reilly (Irish politician)|James Reilly]] said that they would not be changing their policy on the legalisation of cannabis, due to "serious concerns about the health impacts" of cannabis.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ryan |first=Órla |date=13 February 2016 |title=Where do Ireland's political parties stand on decriminalising cannabis? |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/decriminalisation-of-cannabis-ireland-2595145-Feb2016/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127210545/https://www.thejournal.ie/decriminalisation-of-cannabis-ireland-2595145-Feb2016/ |archive-date=27 January 2021 |access-date=24 December 2020 |work=The Journal}}</ref>