Fine Gael, the United Ireland Party

DEREK MOONEY recently made some derogatory remarks in relation to Fine Gael (Irish Examiner, July 14).

Perhaps he should remember this when next he wishes to make another ridiculous statement: The official name of our party is ‘Fine Gael - United Ireland Party’. Rather than being a family at war, it should be noted that it was former Fine Gael Taoiseach John Bruton who first involved former US Senator George Mitchell in the Northern Ireland peace process and Dr Garret FitzGerald was the chief architect of the Sunningdale and Anglo-Irish Agreements that led to the most crucial breakthroughs in the peace process since it began.

In our worst outing in half a century, Fine Gael got 22.5% of the vote. We need something approaching 30% to bring us back to government and that is entirely achievable.