David Stanton FINE Gael has moved to bolster the Party’s youth wing in east Cork. Young Fine Gael (YFG), which has a national network of 4,000 members, will expand its branches to include a new branch in the Cork East Constituency area. YFG will launch this new branch in Midleton on Friday, May 14 at 7.30pm in The Midleton Park Hotel. Anyone aged 15 – 30 years who would like to join this branch is welcome to attend. Fine Gael public representatives are actively recruiting young people to join the party and Cork East TD, David Stanton will speak at the branch launch. Speaking about the expansion of Young Fine Gael in East Cork, David Stanton said, “YFG is the best way for young people to change the course our nation has taken. I am concerned at rising unemployment and emigration... Similar posts

Image via Wikipedia Received this via email this morning: Student Outrage as UCC Impose Conferring Levy on Students- YFG UCC students were left wondering if they were being hit by a bad April fool’s joke from college authorities last night following an email sent to all students informing them of a new €65 conferring fee to be introduced from April 1st. The charge of €65 will apply to each student and their two guests choosing to attend their conferring ceremony. The email stated that any student who did not pay the required fee will be conferred In Absentia and will not be able to attend their graduation ceremony. Massive student anger has erupted following this surprise announcement. UCC Young Fine Gael Chairperson, Robert O Sullivan stated “The introduction of... Similar posts

Could it be that Fine Gael have finally realised that the Irish Constitution is written with Fianna Fail in mind? That every institution, almost every right and its rules work for Fianna Fail and work only for Fianna Fail? Was Dev’s greatest legacy one of the main reasons Fine Gael policy has been so repugnant... Similar posts

I wasn't actually going to write anything on this issue - not wishing to give the oxygen of publicity to YFG and the personalised campaign they have waged against me over the past few weeks and the fact that I changed my mind on the 80kph speed limit for the Outer Ring Road. Firstly, and perhaps most depressingly, I am so disappointed at the tack that YFG has taken in how they have dealt with this issue - aping as it does the tired old, same old, failed old tactics of previous generations of Irish politicians. In fact it is one of the reasons which makes me rejoice that I am no longer part of a political party and no longer forced, sheep like, to follow the same well trodden paths already taken by so many un-worthies already. It is infinitely depressing that 'Young' Fine Gael have nothing... Similar posts

Image via Wikipedia So Young Fine Gael have launched their plan to get Ireland back working. The leaflet is a rehash of one’s I have seen for newERA, with just a YFG logo added and the the supporting documentation is taken directly from Fine Gael documents, Hope for a lost Era and newERA. Nothing is new, there is nothing YFG about this. There has been a trend lately for YFG to follow the senior party and I personally don’t like it. Why couldn’t YFG come up with one new idea? Why couldn’t we push the senior party and be more proactive? That is the job of YFG. I am disappointed by this campaign, but it is one that is needed. It obvious that the government is not going to do anything for those out of work, it is focusing on NAMA and hoping that it will work. I... Similar posts

Image via Wikipedia A Cork South Central Branch of Young Fine Gael is being launched on Friday 15th of January is Soho Bar on Grand Parade at 7:30pm. This is one of the new branches being set up by the Munster Regional Council of Young Fine Gael. YFG is the largest of the youth political parties in country and its expansion into the city should mark another stage in its growth. The meeting will be attended by local and national politicians who will answer questions. The first task of the branch will be to set up a committee and then get things moving in the City. With one local Counciollor a member of Young Fine Gael I am sure they will have plenty of support. Best of luck to them Share this... Similar posts

Launching the Young Fine Gael Lisbon campaign today, Lucinda called on the young people of Ireland to cast their votes in favour of a positive and prosperous future. “This Treaty presents an opportunity, and we need to embrace it. It will greatly enhance Ireland’s chances of economic recovery and set us on the road back to... Similar posts

Oh dear. When I was a member of Young Fine Gael I always vowed that any comment that I would ever make about them in public would be respectful and supportive. Particularly given the help that they have given me in the past. I’m therefore particularly struck by how they’ll react to my description of... Similar posts

Don’t expect much blogging from me tomorrow as after work I am off to the Univerity of Limerick for the 1st Annual General Micheal Collins Debating Competition. I am on a team with the Vice-President of YFG. This means the judges are going to be really hard on us! I got the first motion tonight. The first motion which I will be opposing and it is this: Motion: That this house believes the anthem “Ireland`s Call” should be dropped at the opening of Irish rugby matches and  “Amhran na bhFiann” and “God Save the Queen” be played instead. Im lucky in the fact that I do oppose the motion, not sure about my team mate, but he will have to lump it! This will be my first debating competition. While I have debated substansive motions before at such things... Similar posts

Last night I addressed a public meeting in Maynooth organised by Young Fine Gael on the Lisbon Treaty. I stressed that the reason for voting Yes lay in understanding how profoundly world economic and political power is changing. Do you remember Bertie in his yellow coat on the beach with world leaders? That picture was taken at a G8 meeting.... Similar posts

If you take a walk outside the main hotel there is a big crowd outside enjoying the sunshine. There is a relaxed mood among delegates as the various sessions continue this evening. I attended the YFG session for part of it, but had to leav early. I was there for contributions from Lucinda Creighton (Europe) and Brian Hayes (Education). They gave good speeches, with Lucinda focusing on the Lisbon Treaty and the Lisbon Strategy (not to be confused). Brian Hayes explained the background to his recent Green Paper on higher education. It made alot of sense especially when he said in his speech to the Education Session that if this comes in, the new entrants will not have to pay a registration fee. Who knows what will come of these, will the youth manifesto be any different to senior manifesto?... Similar posts

Image via Wikipedia (I’m told a new logo will be launched at Ard Fheis) So I got a call and an email from the lovely people in the Fine Gael Press Office today to tell me that I have media accreditation for the Fine Gael Ard Fheis. Its just hitting me now what I have left myself in for as I normally get caught to do things at Ard Fheis (its the fault of being in YFG). At the lastArd Fheis I remember manning the YFG stand during part of the day, and thats not including helping carryoing boxes and stuff for other things! We normally get thanked and stuff but with the whole media accredation now I have a lot to do, there goes my relaxing weekend of drinking! I am looking forward to the Ard Fheis anyway and will be a major experience, I just hope I can still vote and stuff! I... Similar posts

Is it not unreasonable to ask graduates to pay a contribution, deductible at source, for a number of years after they enter the labour force? One way of making a contribution could be through the existing PRSI system, it’s only one option to consider. Paying a small proportion of your income over a period after you graduate, although difficult to sell, would in my view be a fairer solution to this issue. There are many ways you could do this. Whatever system you put in place needs to be clear, straightforward and above all else encourages students to stay in college. He says such a funding arrangement can only follow education reforms at third level, including: more  rigorous assessment of quality in teaching,  improve supports for students from poorer backgrounds, more... Similar posts

Image via WikipediaThere are a large number of reasons I will be voting Yes in the forthcoming referendum. Some are to do with Ireland’s European experience to date, which because the changes are largely technical in nature, is a valid reason to vote yes. To a large extent, Lisbon serves as primarily as a lubricant for the European Union, allowing our Union to function more efficiently into the future. There are also some important innovations in the Treaty which are worthy of our support as well, such as the linking of the Presidency of the Commission with the European parliaments election, the strengthening of the role of the national parliaments and the Citizen’s Initiative. That is not to say that the Lisbon Treaty is perfect, it is far from that. Unfortunately, human nature is... Similar posts

Merkel in Ireland today to explain Lisbon Turdy.... Similar posts

From the launch of that Young Fine Gael poster campaign everyone’s blathering about… Go on, give us a few ‘auld funnies for the weekend: more: A Classic: Everybody Hearts Young FG...... Similar posts

Young Fine Gael’s cringe-inducing pro-Lisbon campaign.... Similar posts