A Great Election, Now for a Greater one – Project Overall Majority

So goes the (tad ambitious) title for this weekend’s YFG Summer School taking place in Doolin. In a break from previous YFG summer schools which generally tended to deal with policy issues and the like, this weekend’s get-together will be looking at how to build for the recent election. Not so much to review the last election in its minute, and relieve the things that went particularly well or badly, but more to get an idea where we want to the party to go, and how we are going to get there.

In the aftermath of the election there was a mixed mood amongst party members – we were disappointed not to get into government naturally enough, but at the same time there was great optimism that we had got so far. I suppose which view one tended toward depended very much on your background in the party – someone like myself, who was only involved since 2001 would naturally tend towards great enthusiasm with the result given how far we came.

Random Doolin picture

Anyway, irrespective of the initial reaction to the election, the only real way to look forward is with optimism. We have a greatly invigorated parliamentary party with a strong infusion of new, and quite diverse TDs – something which will hopefully be complemented with the outcome of the Seanad elections. Furthermore, with the shape of the current Dáil only ourselves and Labour have speaking rights from the opposition – something which may help solidify the idea in the public mind of a clear opposition.

So, we are in a reasonably strong position looking forward, but as to how are we going to achieve those extra 10 seats or so to enable us deliver government things are not quite as clear. I’m an optimist, so I would tend to the view that we are going to achieve great things, but we cannot presume that it is just a matter of time and things will fall into our laps – but as to what we need to do to achieve that, I don’t have any particuarly great ideas.

As such, it will be interesting to hear the views of YFGers down in Doolin. Naturally parts of this will inevitably revolve around the party’s public face and policy, an examination of the organisation itself, and the role of branches and members within the organisation would be very, very interesting. While we have had massive increases in membership over the past few years, a review of membership and branch activity would be telling as to whether the party gets full value for them. And equally pressingly, what the party wants from members and from branches. Do we need more members, where do we need them, and what do we need them doing?

While the Summer School will tackle the overall picture, there is also the challenge to deliver more from YFG . In particular is it possible to translate the vibrancy of the main college branches to the regional branches – and to ensure strong retention of members from YFG to FG. We need to define what we want to get out of YFG over the next 5 years, and then set out how we can achieve that.

All the above will get some sort of airing over the weekend, in what promises to be a different event to any of the YFG Summer School’s I have previously attended, which have focused in the main on policy issues and the like. But this debate as to how we can deliver more from FG needs to be carried outside of the Summer School, and on further – and it needs to involve all sections of the party to get the broadest possible viewpoints.

 In the aftermath of the 2002 election something similar occurred, but it was primarily a getting the party back up of the ground exercise. This time, we need to focus that energy clearly on what we need to do so that in 5 years time we are in government – and what we need every member, branch and unit of the party to do to achieve that . We have the time over the coming months for such a debate to occur, there will be no excuse if we don’t use it.

Wider than just Dublin

Just to prevent any confusion, the Library Bar Forum aims to meet in Dublin as this is the simplest solution for the majority (well that and its only starting out!) but anyone who wishes to join is welcome whether you’re from Mayo, Cork or Limerick as I am. The advantage of the Internet allows us an equal footing electronically so consider the door open. We’re actively recruiting from Mizen to Meath, from Donegal to Wexford and all over the Island.