fitzgerald was eager to enter politics and, although it was suggested by several members of fianna fáil (including charles haughey) that he should join them, he made his entry into party politics under the banner of fine gael. he was elected to seanad éireann in 1965 and soon built up his political profile. fitzgerald was elected to dáil éireann at the 1969 general election, for the dublin south-east constituency.