FIANNA FÁIL leader Micheál Martin has said he wants to introduce a “one member, one vote” system as part of a major modernisation drive for the party.
Mr Martin also announced he has appointed a new Committee for Renewal, chaired by Mayo TD Dara Calleary, to help revive the party’s standing following its worst general election since the party was founded.
In a speech in Co Tipperary last night to mark the 85th anniversary of the party, Mr Martin offered his support to the State visit of Queen Elizabeth to Ireland while emphasising the party’s republican credentials and its aspiration to achieve a united Ireland.
Mr Martin spoke to a meeting of party supporters in The Ragg, Co Tipperary, about the need for the party to “rededicate” itself to the founding aims of the party in 1926.
In his first major speech since Fianna Fáil saw its Dáil representation fall to only 20 seats, Mr Martin set out his views on the need for radical modernisation and reorganisation of the party.
Mr Martin said he wanted the party to give active consideration to the one member, one vote system to make the party more welcoming to new members and to put an end to a practice where some cumainn were controlled by a few members.
At present, Fianna Fáil cumainn have three votes each at selection conventions for elections, regardless of their size.
The move, if proceeded with, would be similar to changes wrought by Fine Gael in 2002. That party’s move to one member, one vote is seen to have provided the basis for the party’s big advances in the local elections in 2004 and 2009, where young candidates each recruited dozens of new members to back their bid to get on the ticket for council elections.
Mr Martin also confirmed the party will hold an ardfheis in the autumn, which he said would give an important opportunity for the party to take stock and plan the future. He also intimated that the party would begin work soon on its next big electoral goal: the 2014 local elections.
The party leader said the message he had been getting from thousands of supporters during his first four months as leader was clear.
“If we return Fianna Fáil to the core principles that for so many years won the support and loyalty of the Irish people, we will not only renew our party, we will renew a vital positive force in the life of our nation,” he said.
“I want Fianna Fáil to be that great party it once was and to be in touch with and responsive to the needs of the Irish people.”
He listed the key policy aims of the party as a peaceful and independent Ireland; equality and fairness; prosperity; and “an Ireland that provides for all its people, young and old”.
Fianna Fáil is not currently represented in 23 constituencies. Mr Martin said that he had assigned each of the party’s 20 TDs to take responsibility for neighbouring constituencies that do not have a TD. He also said each of the party’s new Senators would be given specific tasks also.
Mr Martin also reiterated that the party needed to recruit many more women as candidates, and to ensure that at least one person under 30 was a candidate in each local election area.