WHILE THE LEADER of Fine Gael seems set to stay on as Taoiseach until he (possibly) gets the chance to greet Pope Francis in 2018, there is new blood coming down the line in the party.
Not Simon Coveney or Leo Varadkar – even younger.
Two candidates are going head-to-head today for the role of president of the Young Fine Gael (YFG) – a Tipperary PR student, previously of the the party’s National Executive and a Dublin native, formerly of another parish, Fianna Fáil, who ran in the 2014 local elections.
This weekend, Enda Kenny, Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald and a number deputies will be in attendance at the 28th YFG National Conference in Galway, where young party members will choose their next president, vice-president and members of the regional and national panels.
Young Fine Gaelers
Why should people pay attention to the fledglings of the party?
First of all, a number of TDs and ministers that sit around the government Cabinet table began their political career in YFG.
These include Helen McEntee, Simon Harris, Noel Rock and Leo Varadkar and Senator Neale Richmond, to name but a few.
Ahead of the today’s conference, both Rock and Varadkar, who are in attendance at this year’s event, took part in the YFG’s Reeling in the Years skit last night. The crowd were treated to a showcase of some photos from the Social Protection minister’s past.
Ambitions to conquer the younger segment of the Fine Gael party could perhaps evolve into desires for a higher office one day, maybe along the corridors of Leinster House.
Role of president
The pair vying for the job as YFG president are two candidates who have experience in the political game for some years – Marian O’Donnell, from Tipperary and Patrick Martin, from Dublin.
Martin – who has a degree in accounting and is currently pursuing his tax qualification - already has some experience of running a campaign, having ran in the local elections in 2014.
The Irish Independent reports Martin, who helped re-establish the Dublin Central YFG before being elected Dublin Regional Organiser, was once of the Fianna Fáil parish and previously canvassed for Bertie Ahern and former TD Cyprian Brady.
Political experience
Following an unsuccessful bid in the 2014 local elections, Martin stated he gained valuable experience from the turn of events. When he joined Fine Gael he became chair of YFG Dublin Regional Council. He was involved in the Equality Starts Here campaign last year, which advocated for the protection of the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution.
O’Donnell, who first jointed YFG in 2010, studied History and Politics in UL before being elected to UL Students’ Union for a year.
“I’ve been a member since I was 17,” she said, adding that she has been involved from the local branch to the international committee.
The former member of the National Executive 2014/15 is currently studying a Masters in Public Relations in DCU.
The 23-year-old states that YFG is autonomous from the main political party and said young party members shouldn’t be afraid of pushing the youth agenda within the ranks, something she said she would like to do if elected this weekend.
When asked about Martin’s former ties to Fianna Fáil, O’Donnell said, we all “live in the real world and we can’t change our past”. There are plenty of party members who once had other political allegiances, she said, adding that her running-mate had done great work in the Dublin Regional Council.
What are their platforms of interest?
Martin has a strong interest in tax reform and fish farms, while O’Donnell said she is passionate about education.
Voting will take place today from 1.30-3.30pm in the Shearwater Hotel, Ballinasloe, Galway.
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