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YFG Launch Job Creation Survey

YFG Launch its Job Creation Survey to Collect Opinions from Young People in Ireland and Abroad on Boosting Job Creation

Today (Tuesday May 21st), Youth Fine Gael (YFG) launched its Job Creation survey. The survey will gather the views of young people in Ireland, as well as those who have already emigrated, about how job creation policy can be fortified and improved to create better opportunities for young people in Ireland.

This process was kick-started by the recent YFG Seminar, The Future for European Youth, and the survey will feed into YFG’s upcoming Job Creation policy, which the autonomous youth political organisation will present to government.

Youth unemployment remains one of the most significant concerns affecting Ireland, and it is the single most pressing concern for young people. Our experience in the last five years of significant numbers of young people struggling to gain meaningful employment and consequently, considering emigration is something we recall from dark periods of Irish history. YFG want to ensure that we can end high levels of youth unemployment in Ireland that we see at present, and ensure that the future for young people is vastly improved in years to come,” Patrick Molloy, YFG President said.

Read more: YFG Launch Job Creation Survey

Young Fine Gael Delegate Secures Prestigious International Post

A Young Fine Gael representative has been elected Secretary General of the Youth of the European People's Party (YEPP). A conference this weekend in Sofia, Bulgaria chose Colm Lauder as Secretary General of the youth wing of the European People’s Party – the largest pan-European political grouping. The EPP/YEPP constituent members include Fine Gael, Germany’s CDU and the Spain’s Partido Popular.

Minister for European Affairs (and Vice President of the European People's Party), Lucinda Creighton T.D. said: "YEPP has played a highly influential role in the EU over the last 15 years. Holding a senior seat on the board is crucial to Irish interests, particularly considering YEPP's efforts in tackling issues such as youth unemployment - a real priority for the Irish government. YEPP has been an important ally of Fine Gael in gaining support for Irish issues and goals.”

YFG President, Patrick Molloy said: “Securing this senior seat on the YEPP board will be of enormous benefit to Ireland, to Fine Gael and to YFG. It will allow unprecedented access to leading European politicians which is crucial for securing and defending Ireland’s interests.”

Read more: Young Fine Gael Delegate Secures Prestigious International Post

Young Fine Gael Criticises the Trade Unions' Failure to Engage in Croke Park Agreement Talks

Young Fine Gael (YFG) has today strongly criticised the failure of union officials involved in Croke Park Agreement talks to properly engage in the negotiations process. YFG condemned the unwillingness of Trade Unions to make a positive contribution toward managing Ireland's economy back to sustained growth and stability.

“The blatant failure of unions to engage yesterday when they would only hold discussions for a half hour is entirely disingenuous. The incident reflects the persistent posturing from the unions which constitutes the part they choose to play in the negotiation process,” said YFG President, Patrick Molloy.

“The unwillingness of unions to engage with the negotiating process reflects a mind-set still trapped in the pre-crisis era. Ireland needs to make significant savings in the public sector and the unions have obligation to negotiate in a genuine manner, rather than grandstanding,” he continued.

“Unions need to wake up to the realities facing the Irish state and need to remember that an overall positive economic climate, which will be facilitated by a significant alteration of the public sector, is in the best interests of their members and the rest of the country. Young people, in particular, need unions to step up and take these negotiations seriously so that their future here in Ireland can be secured, rather than facing emigration,” YFG President, Patrick Molloy concluded.

YFG Welcomes Cross Party Support from Youth Political wings for Referendum

Young Fine Gael (YFG) President, Patrick Molloy, today welcomed the cross-party support from the youth wings of political parties for the Children’s Referendum. Representatives from various youth political organisation participated in an event to promote the Children’s Referendum on Saturday, organised by the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI).

‘I am delighted that the youth wings of political parties have come together in the interest of future generations. Protecting Ireland’s Children is vital and this referendum offers a safer better future for Ireland’s Children,’ Said YFG President, Patrick Molloy.

‘I hope that young people will come out on Saturday and give a strong endorsement of this amendment to our Constitution.’

‘There is very broad and all-encompassing cross party support for this referendum and it reflects the cross-party agreement that this amendment is in the best interests of Irish Children,” Patrick Molloy concluded.

Judgement on Saturday Voting Should Not Be Based on Complacent Electorate

Young Fine Gael (YFG) has today restated the need for Saturday voting in future Irish elections. Low turnout across the country is not reflective of the day of polling but more a level of general complacency and non-engagement.

'The introduction of Saturday voting for the Children's Referendum was a good and necessary decision. The fact that voting took place on a Saturday, must not be considered a factor in the subsequent poor turnout for what was a uniquely specific referendum - one finding widespread approval from political and civic groups," YFG President, Patrick Molloy said.

'Comments in recent days regarding the part played by Saturday polling day upon the turnout are at best short-sighted and at worst, show a narrow outlook on participation in elections. Saturday voting should be introduced as the regular day for polling to give people who work or study away from home every opportunity to participate.The turnout for the Children's Referendum does not represent a popular rejection of Saturday voting. Future polling on other referenda and other kinds of elections will demonstrate that the specific campaigns, the coverage generated about referenda and elections have a greater impact on turnout than the day of polling.

'Dismissing future votes held on a Saturday would be a knee-jerk reaction and would reflect a general contempt for the needs of younger people who want to use their voice in our democracy," Patrick Molloy, YFG President concluded.

Young Fine Gael Calls on Government to Introduce Weekend Voting for Children's Referendum

Young Fine Gael (YFG) President, Patrick Molloy, today called for the government to use the opportunity of the Children's Referendum as the first introduction of weekend voting in Ireland.

"There is a real need to ensure voting occurs at times when students and other young working people can participate fully in democracy and there is no better opportunity than the Children's Referendum to put this to the test. This referendum is really vital for the future society we want in Ireland, where the protection of children and the best interests of children are considered in decisions relating to them and their future well-being. Young people need to have their say," said Patrick Molloy, YFG President.

"YFG members recently voted at our inaugural Garret FitzGerald Summer School to legislate against holding any future elections or referenda in the middle of the working week. We have been lobbying Senators, TDs, and Ministers directly about this issue."

"The practice of holding midweek elections and referenda prevents many of those in third level education or young people working away from home from exercising their voice. If we want young people to participate in Irish politics we must give them the opportunity to do engage with it at the most important level – by being able to vote. Previous governments have consistently failed to address this issue and there is an expectation from young people in Ireland that this government will do so."

Read more: Young Fine Gael Calls on Government to Introduce Weekend Voting for Children's Referendum

Motions passed at #YFG12

Below are a list of the motions as passed at the 25th Young Fine Gael National Conference. These will now form part of the policy of the organisation for the next 22 months.

YFG calls on the Government to completely re-negotiate the Croke Park Agreement under s1.28 of the Agreement

YFG National Executive

YFG calls on FG to live up to its election promise and remove Irish as a compulsory subject in the Leaving Certificate.

WEXFORD YFG

Read more: Motions passed at #YFG12

Conference Itinerary

Read more: Conference Itinerary

YOUNG FINE GAEL NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2012

Young Fine Gael National Conference will take place on the 17th to the 19th of February in the Bridge House Hotel Tullamore County Offaly. 

The following elections will take place at the National Conference:

There shall be ten elected members of the National Executive.

The President will be directly elected by a vote of all members present and eligible to vote.

The Vice-President will be directly elected by a vote of all members present and eligible to vote.

Eight ordinary members of the National Executive shall be elected.

Four of the ordinary members shall be elected from a National Constituency Panel where all members present and eligible to vote may vote.

Read more: YOUNG FINE GAEL NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2012

Young Fine Gael Policy Adopted at Highest EU levels

Proposals put forward by Young Fine Gael were presented to and agreed upon by the full EPP Congress in Marseille. The Congress was attended by over 22 EU leaders including President Nicholas Sarkozy, Chancellor Angela Merkel and Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD. The proposals were originally drafted by Colm Lauder, Deputy Secretary General of the Youth of the European People's Party (Youth EPP), in his then capacity as International Secretary of YFG.

Mr. Lauder and Young Fine Gael had developed a detailed critique of the European Union's response to the Basel III Banking Accords and suggested alternative proposals that should be integrated with EU policy. These proposals include a re-examination of the complex relationship between investment banking houses and retail banks, protection of EU banking competitiveness and the prioritisation of existing Basel III proposals to encourage a quicker restoration of confidence in the European banking sector.

Read more: Young Fine Gael Policy Adopted at Highest EU levels