Young Fine Gael

Young Fine Gael was formed in 1977 as part of the internal reforms to Fine Gael instigated by Garret FitzGerald, who had become leader of the party that same year.[1] They grew rapidly with over 100 local branches of YFG being formed by 1978. During the 1980s the organisation pursued a relatively socially liberal agenda, supporting the repeal of Ireland's homosexuality laws; a ban on the state funding on single-sex schools; and greater family planning options.

More recently in 2015, YFG campaigned in favour of legalising same-sex marriage by supporting the Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland.[2] In 2017, YFG members at the organisation's Summer School voted to take a neutral stance on any upcoming referendum on Ireland's Eighth Amendment governing the country's abortion laws.[3] In 2018, YFG members voted in favour of Ireland becoming a member of the European nuclear research centre; CERN. In 2019, YFG established its first branch in Northern Ireland, with a branch launched in Queen's University Belfast.This was attended by the Attorney General & Minister for European Affairs Helen McEntee.[4] YFG opposed the programme for government in 2020.[5]

YFG is organised at a national level by its National Executive, at regional level by regional councils, and at a local level by branches. Officers at all levels work with the Fine Gael National Youth Officer who works in Fine Gael headquarters.

• Homeless Solidarity Campaign (2003 & 2004). Sleep-outs in Dublin, Cork and Limerick to raise awareness of Irelands' homelessness problem.[6]
• Housing Tax Campaign (2004): Nationwide petition campaign to raise awareness of the government's excessive tax take on new homes for first-time buyers.
• Talk! Campaign (2005): To raise awareness of Mental Health and Suicide [7]
• Voter Registration Campaign (2006): To encourage Youth Participation in Politics
• Lisbon Treaty Campaign (2008): Campaign to seek a Yes vote in the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.[8]
• Fair Fares Campaign (2014): A campaign to highlight the anomaly that students aged between 16–18 years of age pay an adult fare instead of a student fare. This campaign also called for the universal acceptance of school IDs as proof of identity.[9]
• Break the Ban Campaign (2014). A campaign that called for the repeal of the legislation that banned the sale of alcohol in pubs on Good Friday.[10]
• Priorities for Young Ireland (2014). A policy document launch that summarises all YFG policy. This document was launched by the Taoiseach Enda Kenny in the Royal College of Surgeons on St. Stephen's Green in May.
• Exiting the Crisis, Preparing for the Future (2014). A policy document that contained 15 recommendations for Government regarding youth unemployment. This document was launched by Simon Harris.
• Positive Thinking, Positive Action (2014). A policy document that contained 12 recommendations for Government regarding Mental Health. This document was launched in Buswells Hotel by Senator Colm Burke.
• Marriage Equality Referendum (2015). YFG campaigned in favour of a Yes vote in the Marriage Equality referendum in 2015.[11]
• UseYourOwn Campaign (2018). Campaign for introduction of a €0.25 Government levy on disposable coffee cups.
• Know Your Past Campaign (2018). Campaign in favour of providing History as a compulsory Junior Cycle subject.
• Pay Our Troops (2018). A very large scale campaign which called on the Fine Gael-led government to restore the pay of members of the Irish Defence Forces to their pre-2008 Crash levels.
• Mental Health Matters (2020). The campaign looked for assurance that an increase to mental health funding as per the Sláintecare plan despite the fiscal impacts of the Covid-19 Pandemic. [12]

In 2008, independent TD Finian McGrath accused Young Fine Gael of being "cheap and sexist" after it published pro-Lisbon Treaty posters. The first depicted a scantily clad male model in a tight pair of EU boxer shorts with the words "Enlarge your opportunities" emblazoned across them. The second poster showed a young woman holding a pair of melons close to her chest with the slogan "Increase your prospects." Mr. McGrath said he considered the campaign ""tacky and childish" and accused YFG of attempting to degrade the seriousness of the debate.[13]

In November 2013, Tom O’Sullivan, the treasurer of YFG Dublin Regional Council, was ejected from a YFG hustings following an extraordinary attack on David Higgins, the Dublin region organiser and public relations officer for Trinity YFG, during a question and answer session on the night. The accusations levelled against Higgins was the claim that he was responsible for the profit losses of the Blue Ball event, the implication being he had pocketed the proceeds for himself and his political associates.[14]

In October 2015, president Padraig O'Sullivan resigned from his position “due to work and personal commitments”. It later transpired that his sudden departure was prompted by other members of the National Executive. An informed source, who declined to be named, told The Journal website that a petition, signed by the majority of executive council members, was hand-delivered to O’Sullivan’s home. The petition demanded that O’Sullivan either resign or he would be forced out. Interim president Colm Taylor, who was elected YFG vice president in March of that year, insisted it was an internal party matter, stating; "The situation is that Padraig did resign. It is an internal party matter. The executive of YFG are meeting on Tuesday to discuss matters arising from it. I won’t comment any further." A source within the party suggested that there was some disquiet with YFG’s performance, stating; "This seems like a House of Cards type of thing. People wanted him out and wanted to get his job".[15] Taylor did not respond to The Journal‘s repeated requests for comment in the 24 hours preceding their latest article covering the topic, while other members of the national executive had also maintained their silence. On the party’s Facebook discussion group, they said: “I won’t be commenting in a situation again which a screenshot can be taken.” Former YFG president Dale McDermott has called for the entire national executive to resign in the wake of the controversy, warning that the situation has descended into “a complete farce”. However, YFG said that all members of the national executive are remaining in their positions. Another executive member said they stood by their decision to sign the ultimatum letter presented to O’Sullivan. One council member has cited The Journal's coverage of the controversy as a reason for not commenting.[16] In a strongly-worded letter, signed by over a dozen YFG branches around the country and seen by TheJournal.ie, members had called for the entire national executive to resign or face individual motions of no confidence. The letter also called for a detailed report and possible investigation into the events surrounding O’Sullivan’s departure. It registered considerable outrage at the events of then recent months, and referred to the ousting of O’Sullivan as “a revolting House of Cards scheme”.[17]

In February 2016, a YFG member posted a meme of Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald, making fun of the fact she referred to 'Booby Sands' on a leaflet, online. McDonald described it as an example of "everyday sexism", "tasteleless" and "bordering on smutty".[18] Also in 2016, a YFG member replied to a tweet by Sinn Féin councillor Sarah Holland, using the official YFG Twitter account. The reply contained the line 'where's that child I killed?', a reference to the IRA. YFG later apologised for the incident, stating that the tweet had been sent by an individual within the organisation using the YFG account.[19]

In 2018, then newly elected YFG president Killian Foley-Walsh said that he didn't remember sending a tweet which referenced women having abortions using “coathangers and stairs” – but said that it was an “atrocious” comment. The tweet still appeared on his account at the time of the article's release. His election prompted party members to alert The Journal to the existence of a tweet sent by Foley-Walsh in 2015 which argued against the use of abortion pills and referenced coat hangers.[20] In 2019, there were calls for YFG president Killian Foley-Walsh to resign from his position when it was revealed that he and YFG Director of Communications Chloe Kennedy attended the Young America Foundation's annual conference at which Mike Pence and Ted Cruz spoke.[21] Neither the President nor the Director of Communications resigned. Walsh revealed during his end of term speech in front of his YFG peers and many senior ranking members of the Fine Gael party including Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that he had become so overcome by the hatred and vitriol  which he had received for attending the conservative conference that he had taken to harming himself but was, thankfully, on a road to a positive future,”You wouldn’t see them [the marks] unless you were looking for them because, frankly, I’m careful. I have done these things to myself. I have been upset. It’s been a tough couple of months.” Foley-Walsh was commended for being 'brave' by The Progressive Brief.[22]

• Young Fine Gael