Young Fine Gael leader urges reform

Young Fine Gael will be urged by president Lizzie Munnelly to seek new members when it meets for its ninth summer school in Doolin…

Young Fine Gael will be urged by president Lizzie Munnelly to seek new members when it meets for its ninth summer school in Doolin, Co Clare, this weekend.

Ms Munnelly will suggest to delegates to consider whether its branch structure facilitated the "type of 21st-century dynamic" that encouraged a wide enough cross-section of young people to participate in democracy.

"This is of particular relevance to non-college branches," says Ms Munnelly. "When Young Fine Gael was established in 1977, non-college branches were the backbone of the organisation. Ireland has been transformed dramatically over the past 10 years, not to mention 30 years."

She believes that for a political organisation to remain relevant, it must be both responsive to, and reflective of, the prevailing social trends.

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"Young Fine Gael must remain open to all, regardless of geography or educational status," she says. "A vibrant non-college section is vitally important for the future success of Young Fine Gael. It is our challenge this weekend to develop the template to make this happen."

Michael O'Regan

Michael O'Regan

Michael O’Regan is a former parliamentary correspondent of The Irish Times