Fine Gael asked to explain co-operation with far-right

Fine Gael’s membership of the European People’s Party in the European Parliament has been called into question by Dublin MEP’s.

The nominally centre-right EPP is the biggest party in the European Parliament, but has relied on the support of the far-right Identity and Democracy and Europe of Sovereign Nations on certain issues such as migration and climate issues.

Fine Gael was a founding member of the European People’s Party when it was founded in 1976 and has been part of the grouping ever since.

Traditionally, there has been an informal coalition in the European Parliament and Commission between the EPP and the Socialists and Democrats grouping, home of Labour.

With the S&D’s influence waning in the European Parliament over the last decade, this has led to the EPP relying on parties further to their right to secure results.

Last week, a controversial vote which would have legally compelled European businesses to follow laws concerning the practice of greenwashing.

The bill, which was agreed upon, was pulled at the 11th hour by the Von Der Leyen Commission, to the annoyance of MEPs.

Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan said the decision was “outrageous.”

“After months of negotiations, this law was supposed to be finalised. However, the EPP group, of which Fine Gael is part, suddenly pulled out the process, with the Commission itself following today, rather than going through the proper process for finding a way forward with laws,” Boylan explained.

“This backhanded move has stopped a law that would have ensured consumers who want to choose more sustainable products, and pay a premium for them, are not exploited and misled by greenwashing.”

The Sinn Féin MEP said if the law passed, it would have also helped small businesses selling sustainable goods by stopping big corporations from “undercutting them with greenwashing.”

“It appears that rather than protecting consumers, the environment, and even sustainable businesses; Fine Gael, the EPP, and the EU commission would rather protect the profits of big corporations. The uestion they need to answer, is why?”

Labour MEP Aodhán Ó Ríordáin also expressed discomfort with the EPP teaming up with the far-right groupings in the European Parliament to create a taskforce with the explicit aim of targeting NGOs

Ó Ríordáin said the move was “a blatant political stunt by the EPP and their far-right allies. This isn’t about transparency, it’s about silencing civil society.”

Ó Ríordáin said it was “indefensible” that Fine Gael are part of the EPP grouping, saying it was “deeply troubling, and frankly, embarrassing, for Irish representatives to align themselves with political agendas that clash completely with Irish values.”

The Labour MEP said, “Fine Gael must answer to Irish voters for staying tied to a political group veering so dangerously off course.”

“They may not support these attacks outright, but their membership in an increasingly extreme bloc cannot be brushed aside. You cannot claim to stand for human rights at home while backing a group that erodes them in Brussels,” he said.

In a May 2024 questionnaire sent to all European candidates, this newspaper asked, “would you work with MEPs such as ones from the AFD in Germany or the PVV in the Netherlands if you are selected?

Fine Gael MEP Regina Doherty said, “I will not work with parties that are far-right, anti-European, and xenophobic, this includes the AFD and the PVV. Fine Gael MEPs have always voted against their proposals in the European Parliament and I would do the same.”