Sinn Féin is set to review its party structure amid concern its success in encouraging members to become “activists” has been “limited”.
The party is understood to have more than 10,000 members but there is a view in some quarters that some Sinn Féin members are not as active as others.
A Dundalk branch of the party put forward a motion noting that there are Sinn Féin supporters who are “often unable to contribute the time and resources required of full party membership”.
It also suggested that “the membership numbers are currently giving the party an inaccurate view of party strength and activist numbers.”
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It proposed exploring the creation of a “separate tier” of membership where some members “do not have the same full rights as ‘activist members’”.
A motion from the party’s ruling body, the Ard Chomhairle, calling for a review of party structures was passed by delegates in Athlone.
Their motion stated that the organisational structure of Sinn Féin served the party well for decades and “when working as intended” the “cumann structure provides a link to and within local communities.”
It adds that other parts of the structure above cumann level “provide a clear path for consistent and reliable communication between the activist and party leadership”.
However, it added: “when not working as intended this communication breaks down causing detachment and disengagement.” The motion also said: “our success in encouraging members to become activists has been limited.”
The passing of the motion means that an Ard Chomhairle commission is to be set up to review “the effectiveness of current party structures” and its “membership model”.
Over the course of this weekend’s ardfheis party members will debate some 188 motions.
They include everything from a series of motions on preparing for a united Ireland and proposals for delivering affordable housing to reaffirming Sinn Féin’s ambition to bring about an “Irish National Health Service”.
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