YFG Informer 2013

YFG INTERNATIONAL YFG are founding members of the youth organisation Youth of the European People’s Party (YEPP). YEPP hold a number of prominent seminars every year all over Europe.

YFG has a newly formed International Committee (IC) which is open to all members and holds events and seminars based on topical international events. These take place around the country throughout the year. Recently, the IC has been busy organising events to coincide with Ireland’s successful European Presidency. Our IC helps to build relationships with YEPP members, and other youth political organisations all over the world.

LOCAL & EUROPEAN ELECTIONS 2014 County Council, City Council & European Parliament elections are due to take place next May, in 2014.

YFG members will be campaigning for Fine Gael candidates right across the country in the coming months. This will provide new members with an early insight into the cut and thrust of grassroot politics! Please contact your local branch chairperson for details on how you can get involved!

YFG.IE WEBSITE We have recently launched a new YFG website which can be viewed at www.yfg.ie. Here you will find an array of more information on YFG and our activities across the country.

September 2013

JOIN YOUNG FINE GAEL As a new member of Young Fine Gael (YFG), we would like to welcome you to the latest edition of The Informer, designed to give you an insight into the YFG organisation.

Schools and National Conferences can be sent to Fine Gael’s Árd Fheis and brought to the attention of the relevant Minister and Government Department.

YFG is the politically autonomous youth wing of the Fine Gael party, maintaining its independence to express the views of young people. As an organisation, it is committed to the values of the Fine Gael party – equality of opportunity, enterprise and reward, safety and security in our society, while insisting integrity and hope are at the core of the organisation’s actions.

YFG allows young people drive political change in this country.

We can, and do, make the government act upon YFG policy and we want you, as a new member, to help us.

It is vital for Ireland’s future that young people are given a voice in shaping future government policy – you can use your voice to effect change in Ireland through YFG. Policy motions proposed by individual branches and passed at YFG Summer

YFG is an organisation with a network of thousands of members nationwide, and an unrivalled programme of social events, policy discussions, political events, nights out, and weekends away. So, as well as an opportunity to voice your opinion on the issues, policies and campaigns that matter to you, you get a packed social life into the bargain!

The future starts now, speak up!

Sign up today and get involved in your local YFG branch!

fg .ie . y w w w o t Go o yo u r t p u n g i s to today! h c n a r b G YF

If you need any further information, go to www.yfg.ie to find the Terms and Conditions of membership, details of upcoming events, photographs of our campaigns, and in-depth policy information.

INSIDE Q WHAT WE STAND FOR Q SHAPE YFG POLICY Q YFG & FG NATIONAL CONFERENCE Q YFG INTERNATIONAL Q AND MORE...

YFG INFORMER

HOW IS YFG POLICY FORMED YFG is an independent and autonomous organisation whose policy is formed by the membership.

This means that the issues which are important to you, the member, can become the basis for campaigns, and possibly become a parliamentary bill. YFG policy has been adopted

by FG parliamentarians, TDs, Senators, and MEPs. The most popular forum for policy discussion is the local or college branch. Here, a discussion can take place and a policy motion can be adopted by the group.

Once a year, motions are submitted to our annual Garret FitzGerald Summer School. Those that pass can become policy, if adopted by the National Executive.

The National Conference is our largest forum for policy discussion and occurs every 18-22 months.

Here, branches can submit their motions and those selected will be discussed by members from all over the country. Debate is the order of the day, and every member can exercise their right to speak. Any motion which is passed here automatically becomes YFG policy.

The YFG National Executive can adopt policy in its own right outside of these two events. After YFG policies are formed, individual branches and the national executive work together to campaign for their implementation by government.

WHAT DOES YFG STAND FOR EDUCATION YFG has consistently sought reform of the education system. This includes proposals for: • I ntroduction of a Graduate Taxation scheme to fund the third level system, giving all students the opportunity to attend third level.

•R eform of the second level curriculum including the introduction of computer programming courses and other IT and enterprise related subjects.

•G reater engagement with businesses and industry to provide students with placements as a recognised part of the third level experience.

GARRET FITZGERALD SUMMER SCHOOL #GFSS The annual Garret FitzGerald Summer School took place in Kilkenny City in July. As then Leader of Fine Gael, Garret FitzGerald founded YFG in 1977 as a politically autonomous organisation, to ensure that young people were given a stronger voice in future Fine Gael policy.

TACKLING YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT •Y FG is campaigning for steps YFG recognises that the top priority for government should to support and foster youth entrepreneurship be tackling the problem of youth unemployment and •Y FG supports the creation of more the rates of emigration in our graduate internship opportunities young people.

•Y FG supports the Youth Guarantee

PRE-BUDGET SUBMISSION YFG submits a pre-budget policy submission to Government each year in advance of the annual National Budget. The Budget 2013 edition can be found online at www.yfg.ie/budget13 We are seeking your ideas in advance of our 2014 submission!

• Creating a fair and caring society • Removing barriers to equal opportunity

ENTERPRISE AND REWARD • Encouraging initiative, innovation, investment and self-reliance

Members discussed a range of policy motions and resolutions as well as hearing from a number of key speakers in our Job Creation Seminar. Following a tied vote, the YFG National Executive voted to take no position in the Seanad Abolition Referendum. We also went greyhound racing, paintballing and on a cycling tour!

The levels of obesity among young Irish people are rising and are now estimated to be one in five. This problem is impacting on the quality of life for individuals and is potentially a major societal and economic problem if we do not take more action and alter conditions to mitigate what is becoming an epidemic.

Earlier this year, YFG members voted to research and formulate a campaign on measures to enhance a healthier lifestyle - food labeling, changing the education system and possible tax incentives are all being investigated. You can play your part in our campaign in the coming term.

EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY

• Engaging in democracy

CHILDHOOD OBESITY

MARRIAGE AND ADOPTION EQUALITY YFG has fully backed the right of marriage for same sex couples and holds the view that no person’s sexual preference should discount them from the right to marry.

We believe in equality for all and hold the view that children should be brought up by loving and devoted parents, no matter what their sexual orientation is.

YFG members voted for legislation to be enacted to allow same-sex marriage in 2011 and for legislation to be enacted to allow gay couples to adopt in 2012.

YFG members play a prominent role in the Fine Gael LGBT group.

YFG submitted a proposal in favour of Marriage Equality to the constitutional convention and will be strongly campaigning for a YES vote in the upcoming referendum.

OUR VALUES

YFG NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2013 #YFG13 The 26th YFG National Conference will take place in the Tower Hotel, Waterford City from Friday to Sunday, November 22nd - 24th. This is the biggest event in the YFG calendar and is central decision making body of our organisation.

At each conference, a new National Executive is elected and members vote on our policy priorities for the period after conference. The conference is attended by senior Fine Gael politicians including An Taoiseach Enda Kenny and several government ministers. Social events also take place each evening, including a gala banquet on the Saturday night.

This year’s conference promises to be the best yet! Your local branch officers will be able to provide details on how you can attend!

FINE GAEL NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2013 YFG members will attend the FG National Conference in the South Court Hotel, Limerick from Friday to Sunday, October 11th - 13th. The Conference will focus on how Fine Gael in Government is rebuilding the economy, creating a climate for job creation and help to lay out a vision for Ireland’s future. All members are welcome to attend and contribute to debate over the course of the weekend. Please contact your local branch for details on how you can register as a delegate!

• Preserving, enhancing and sharing prosperity • Re-building a vibrant, competitive economy

SECURITY • Building a safe society in Ireland by protecting citizens and enforcing the law • Strengthening families, and fostering communities

INTEGRITY • Being truthful and courageous in what we do • Promoting and upholding both the rights and the responsibilities of people

HOPE AND AMBITION • Building an Ireland of excellence and ambition • Promoting a shared vision of a confident and sustainable future for Ireland, both at home and abroad