Fine Gael: A family at War

DTV · 07-07-2003 9:06pm #1

Never got a chance to watch the three-part series of Fine Gael: A family at war, believe it is excellent , has anyone got a copy of the series on video?

Cork · 09-07-2003 3:04pm

It was a very good series particularly the final eposode. It was very well made.

I would love to see a similar series on FF during the Haughy years - but unfortunately many to those involved have passed away.

Sparks · 09-07-2003 5:26pm

Somehow I think that they'd be more likely to avoid participation for fear of incrimination rather than anything else. But at least we'd finally get to hear where the provo's seed capital came from, from the people that (in all liklihood, damn the libel laws) gave it to them.

solice · 09-07-2003 7:17pm

no doubt that if there was a series made about ff the would control the whole thing and everything incriminating and seedy about the party (which is quite alot) would be swept under the carpret

DTV · 09-07-2003 9:11pm

Does nobody have a copy of the series on video, please

Cork · 10-07-2003 8:46am

I think a programme of this quality will be repeated sooner rather than later.

antoinolachtnai · 16-07-2003 12:43am

here's a piece I wrote about the program:

http://www.eire.com//blogarchives/000039.html

poneill · 16-07-2003 10:41pm

it dribbled to a halt

why did nobody try to find out what they stand for?

Sparks · 16-07-2003 10:48pm

why did nobody try to find out what they stand for?

They tried, but if FG themselves don't know, what hope had RTE of figureing it out?

antoinolachtnai · 16-07-2003 11:06pm

Michael Laver of TCD did extensive research at grassroots level into what Fine Gael stood for. This research wasn't discussed at all in the program.

Standing for something is greatly overrated as a virtue when it comes to political parties. The most successful party in the history of the State doesn't stand for anything (other than election).

a.

PH01 · 17-07-2003 10:42am

1. They're a centralist party
2. They're the anti-FF party - one party who are gauranteed never to go into coalition with FF.
3. They're a pro establishment party - conservatives.

There is more I know.

Biffa Bacon · 19-07-2003 9:06am

What I found appalling about this and about Fine Gael's predicament in general was that pretty much everyone, from Enda Kenny down, admitted that the party had no policies and stood for nothing. So why is no one asking, "Why the hell are you running for office then?" The emphasis for rebuilding the party is all on finding some populist policies they can run on. Basically they are admitting they are only in politics for personal gain. Does no one else find this disgraceful?

Cork · 19-07-2003 12:00pm

I think some Fgs would be more at home in either the PDs of Labour. I seriously believe Enda has his work cut out for him.

SkepticOne · 19-07-2003 1:13pm

Originally posted by antoinolachtnai
Standing for something is greatly overrated as a virtue when it comes to political parties. The most successful party in the history of the State doesn't stand for anything (other than election).

True. Look also at New Labour in Britain who basically modified and diluted their core ideology in order to oust the Tories.

Problem for FG in Ireland is that there is already a succesful populist party. I don't see how they can compete on this basis. Neither can they simply invent a stand. Parties need to have this from the beginning otherwise they are viewed with cynicism.

Fine Gael: A family at War

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