Young Fine Gael
Encyclopedia
Young Fine Gael is the autonomous youth wing of the major Irish
political party
Fine Gael
. It offers its members scope to assist in formulation of political policy, and the day to day running of the senior party. It is a founding member of the Christian Democratic centre-right pan-European organisation, Youth of the European Peoples Party, which is the youth wing of the European Peoples Party.
, who had become leader of the party that same year. They grew rapidly with over 100 local branches of YFG being formed by 1978. During the 1980s they pursued a fairly liberal agenda, supporting the repeal of Ireland's homosexuality laws; a ban on the state funding on single-sex schools; and greater family planning options. Nowadays there is a broad range of political viewpoints held by members, ranging from centrist and social-democratic to the more conservative.
YFG structure is based upon the European election constitutions. Its consists of Dublin, Leinster
(Ireland East), Munster
(Ireland South) and Connaught
/Ulster
(Ireland West). Each province in turn has an elected regional organiser to represent them on the National Executive, and regional councils in which the individual branches can meet and engage in discussion and set out agenda. These regional councils are designed to energise members from the same region and provide innovation in the group as well as in its senior party. Such groups have proven a valuable facet in the workings of the organisation, providing the party with an academy type structure where members are offered scope to work through the party organisation and forward the ambitions of the youth party and its membership.
The last Conference took place in Charleville on the 12th- 14th November 2010 and elected were:
TD after it published pro-Lisbon Treaty posters. The first depicted a scantily clad male model in a tight pair of EU boxer shorts with the words "Enlarge your opportunities" emblazoned across them. The second poster showed a young woman holding a pair of melons close to her chest with the slogan "Increase your prospects." Mr. McGrath said he considered the campaign ""tacky and childish" and accused YFG of attempting to degrade the seriousness of the debate.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
. It offers its members scope to assist in formulation of political policy, and the day to day running of the senior party. It is a founding member of the Christian Democratic centre-right pan-European organisation, Youth of the European Peoples Party, which is the youth wing of the European Peoples Party.
History
Young Fine Gael were formed in 1977 as part of the internal reforms to Fine Gael instigated by Garret FitzGeraldGarret FitzGerald
Garret FitzGerald was an Irish politician who was twice Taoiseach of Ireland, serving in office from July 1981 to February 1982 and again from December 1982 to March 1987. FitzGerald was elected to Seanad Éireann in 1965 and was subsequently elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael TD in 1969. He...
, who had become leader of the party that same year. They grew rapidly with over 100 local branches of YFG being formed by 1978. During the 1980s they pursued a fairly liberal agenda, supporting the repeal of Ireland's homosexuality laws; a ban on the state funding on single-sex schools; and greater family planning options. Nowadays there is a broad range of political viewpoints held by members, ranging from centrist and social-democratic to the more conservative.
Organisation
YFG has a range of policies that it developed, on the ground, at grass roots level. It has policy committees ranging from the Social Affairs committee to the Northern Ireland committee. These policies have on occasion been adopted by the senior Fine Gael party. YFG's constitution however allows for the organisation to act on its own, independent from its parent party, enabling it to promote its own political objectives.YFG structure is based upon the European election constitutions. Its consists of Dublin, Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
(Ireland East), Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
(Ireland South) and Connaught
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
/Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
(Ireland West). Each province in turn has an elected regional organiser to represent them on the National Executive, and regional councils in which the individual branches can meet and engage in discussion and set out agenda. These regional councils are designed to energise members from the same region and provide innovation in the group as well as in its senior party. Such groups have proven a valuable facet in the workings of the organisation, providing the party with an academy type structure where members are offered scope to work through the party organisation and forward the ambitions of the youth party and its membership.
Branches
The basic unit of organisation in Young Fine Gael is the branch. These are organised in every constituency in the country. YFG also has prominent branches in each of the country's third level institutions to provide a forum to interested students, in areas of political discussion, policy, debate and social activities.Recent National Campaigns
- Homeless Solidarity Campaign (2003 & 2004). Sleep-outs in Dublin, Cork and Limerick to raise awareness of Irelands' homelessness problem.
- Better Deal for Young Drivers (2003): To campaign for action on road safety, motor insurance for young drivers and reform of the diver education/testing system. This campaign included 20 public meetings nationwide and a local media and internet publicity drive.
- Housing Tax Campaign (2004): Nationwide petition campaign to raise awareness of the government's excessive tax take on new homes for first-time buyers.
- Talk! Campaign (2005): To raise awareness of Mental Health and Suicide
- Voter Registration Campaign (2006): To encourage Youth Participation in Politics
- Lisbon Treaty Campaign (2008): Campaign to seek a Yes vote in the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.
- Get Ireland Back to Work Campaign 2010: To raise awareness of FG's policies on job creation including New Era & Hope for a Lost Generation, conducted to provide answers to Ireland's recession.
Publications
YFG operates an online ezine, The Informer. YFG's International Committee also publishes a bi-annual journal called "The Vulcan".President and Executive
A National Executive is elected at the National Conference of YFG, which is held every 18 months.The last Conference took place in Charleville on the 12th- 14th November 2010 and elected were:
- President: Eric Keane
- Vice President: Bríd Murphy
- Third Executive Council seat and Director of Communications: Graham Dullaghan
- National Secretary & Branch Development Officer: Carol Madigan
- Policy Director: William Quill
- Policy Officer: Colm 'well laaads' Taylor
- North West Regional Organiser: Cillian Griffey
- Lenister Regional Organiser:Colum Roche
- Dublin Regional Organiser: Patrick Molloy
- Munster Regional Organiser: Conor Crean
Notable Incidents
Lisbon poster controversy 2008 - In 2008 YFG was accused of being "cheap and sexist" by Finian McGrathFinian McGrath
Finian McGrath is an Irish independent politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Dublin North Central constituency since 2002.-Early and personal life:...
TD after it published pro-Lisbon Treaty posters. The first depicted a scantily clad male model in a tight pair of EU boxer shorts with the words "Enlarge your opportunities" emblazoned across them. The second poster showed a young woman holding a pair of melons close to her chest with the slogan "Increase your prospects." Mr. McGrath said he considered the campaign ""tacky and childish" and accused YFG of attempting to degrade the seriousness of the debate.