AGM 2011

The AGM of the Carbery branch of Young Fine Gael (YFG) was held in the Imperial Hotel
in Clonakilty recently. Guest speakers on the night included the newly elected deputy
Jim Daly TD. Apologies were extended by both Noel Harrington TD and Councillor Humphrey
Deegan.

The meeting consisted of a roundup of the past year’s events in the constituency from outgoing
Chairperson Noel O’Donovan who spoke about his time as Chairperson over the past three years and
how he has witnessed the buzz about the party grow and grow. Cllr O’Donovan then thanked
everyone for the support he received during the convention for his council seat. He then spoke
about how he plans to continue to highlight issues that are being forgotten by others because it was
easy to do so. He encouraged members to continue to fight for change and use Young Fine Gael as a
method for doing just that.

Incoming Chairperson John O’Sullivan firstly thanked everyone for supporting him in
his bid for Chairperson. He vowed not to disappoint all who have showed such confidence in him.
He paid tribute to Cllr Noel O’Donovan on the fine job he did in setting up the branch which now has
over 100 members. O’Sullivan then went on to outline his plans for the coming year which included
policy debates and more active lobbying and campaigns.

Incoming Secretary Tadhg O’Donovan welcomed and thanked the YFG National Executive members for coming to Clonakilty and paid tribute to the Vice-President of YFG Bríd Murphy, from Innishannon on her success in getting elected at the recent National Conference. He then spoke about the upcoming Summer School which will be held in July and will be a must attend event for all members.
Guest speaker Jim Daly TD then spoke by commending the branch for the work that was carried out
during his election campaign. He went on further to say that the enthusiasm shown by the young
people of the area was a contributing factor in retaining the two seats in the Cork South West
constituency. Munster Regional Organiser, Conor Creen thanked the outgoing committee for their
tiresome work over the past year and said he was heartened by the large numbers at the meeting.

YFG Vice-President, Miss Bríd Murphy, spoke about the advantages that the branch now has in that it has the youngest Councillor on the Council. She challenged members to run campaigns incorporating Cllr O’Donovan and to continue to make their voices heard. She thanked the branch for their nomination for her for the YFG National Executive. National Director of Communications, Mr Graham Dullaghan BSc, spoke proudly at how this branch resembles his own home branch of Donegal and regularly punches about its weight having its own Councillor and Vice- President of the national organisation.
The election of officers was overseen by Cllr Jim Daly.

Elected on the night were as follows:
Chairman: John O’ Sullivan
Secretary: Tadhg O’ Donovan
Treasurer: Shane McCarthy
PRO: John Kingston
Membership Officer: Eimear Hayes
Organiser: John Appelbe

YFG is the youth wing of the Fine Gael party and always welcomes new
members aged between 15 and 30. If you wish to join the branch do not
hesitate to contact us at carberyyfg@gmail.com.

 

Chairman wins Convention!

Chair of the Carbery Young Fine Gael branch, Noel O’Donovan has successfully won the recent convention to fill the vacant County Council seat of now TD Jim Daly. At 22, he is now the youngest Councillor on Cork County Council. He was elected ahead of three other candidates from the Skibbereen Electoral Area. Cllr O’Donovan will now join the other Fine Gael members on Cork County Council.

 

Carbery YFG prepares for election.

A General Election will be held within the next number of months. Carbery YFG is preparing to assist the Fine Gael candidates to ensure Fine Gael wins two seats in the 31st Dáil.

If anyone would like to assist our campaign, which will be kicking off soon, just drop us an email on carberyyfg@gmail.com. If you can only give an hour or two thats fine! Every little helps!

It is also important for all young people to be registered to vote in the coming election. If you are not on the current Register and wish to vote in January, you must register your name to be added to the Supplementary Register. This is used together with the 2010 Register and as such will allow you to vote in any election prior to February 15th 2011.

The form for the Supplementary Register is available here:

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B6J1Hvhh38EAOGZjMDBkMWItODc2Mi00ZjAxLTk2OTUtMTI5NTQ1MjlhZjYx&hl=en&authkey=CIiU3eUI

It should be submitted to the County Council as soon as possible.

Register to Vote to make your voice heard.

If anyone is confused or needs more information contact us asap.

 

All Ireland Senior Football Champions

Carbery Young Fine Gael would like to congratulate the Cork Football team on winning the Sam Maguire last Sunday. In what was a thrilling encounter the rebel side stuck with it until the end displaying a never say die attitude to finally bring Sam home.
It was great to see so many West Cork men on the team!
Also a special word of thanks has to go to the Minor team who were although unlucky on the day fought so hard throughout the year to give us many wonderful performances. Your day will no doubt be soon.

 

Young Fine Gael “Summer School “

The annual Young Fine Gael (YFG) “Summer School” will take place in Tramore, County Waterford from the 9th to the 12th of July 2010. The Friday night will consist of a social evening where fun will be had by all. Saturday morning will consist of  different policy sessions. The evening will welcome a social, that must be seen to be believed. Sunday morning will close Summer School.

More details to follow…

All interested in attending, contact: carberyyfg@gmail.com

 

Ban to Legal Highs, at Last!

Carbery Young Fine Gael (YFG) today welcomes the introduction of legislation to ban dangerous substances which were being sold in “head shops” across Cork and Ireland. These legal highs, including mimic cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy,  are now illegal to buy or sell. Anyone caught doing so could now, face a fine or even a prison sentence.

In recent months a crazy situation has existed where head shops were open at all hours of the night, unregulated, selling these “legal highs”. These highs are detrimental to one’s health and many of which contain unknown ingredients and cause unforeseen effects.

Carbery YFG today welcomed the new laws with open arms. This new legislation will undoubtedly make our streets a safer place. Legal highs were being produced in pills and powders, creating a surge of energy but also agitation, headaches and sickness. The after effects were extremely dangerous. We now hope that tough legislation will follow, that will ban head-shops altogether.

Carbery Young Fine Gael (YFG) today embraces the introduction of legislation to ban dangerous substances which were being sold in “head shops” across Cork and Ireland. These legal highs, including mimic cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy,  are now illegal to buy or sell. Anyone caught doing so could now, face a fine or even a prison sentence.

In recent months, a crazy situation has existed where head shops were open at all hours of the night, unregulated, selling these “legal highs”. These highs which are detrimental to one’s health and many of which contain unknown ingredients and cause unforeseen effects.

Carbery YFG today welcomed the new laws with open arms. This new legislation will undoubtedly make our streets a safer place. Legal highs were being produced in pills and powders, creating a surge of energy, but also aftereffects such as agitation, headaches and sickness. The after effects were extremely dangerous. We now hope that tough legislation will follow, that will ban head-shops altogether.

 

Annual General Meeting 2010

The AGM of the Carbery branch of Young Fine Gael (YFG) was held in the
Imperial Hotel in Clonakilty recently. Guest speakers on the night
included local politicians Cllr Jim Daly and Cllr John O’Sullivan
along with Young Fine Gael National Executive Munster organiser Keith
Winters.

The meeting consisted of a round up of the past year’s events in the
constituency from Chairman Noel O’Donovan, followed by the election of
the new officers for the coming year. Addressing the meeting he said
he was overwhelmed by the huge turnout and stressed how important it
is for young people to take an active part in politics today and to
make their voices heard. He outlined his ideas for the Summer
including fundraising, social events and trips.

Secretary Shane McCarthy recapped on the event filled year that the
branch had. Events included a pitch and putt tournament which raised
€500 for both Bantry and Clonakilty hospitals, canvassing for the
European and Local elections last June and the Christmas Party. He
said he was delighted to have been secretary during such an action
packed year. Treasurer Shane Buttimer reinforced this in his report
while revealing that the finances of the branch are in as healthy
state.

Councillor Jim Daly said he was encouraged to see young people getting
involved in politics during such an economically harsh climate. Cllr
John O’Sullivan added to this by stating that it is young people who
have been greatly affected by the recession and said its great to see
so many willing to get involved and spoke of his delight to see such a
great gender balance to the branch.

YFG Munster Regional Organiser Keith Winters spoke of his delight to
be back in West Cork and informed members as to the Summer activities
planned by YFG nationally including Summer School and the YFG
conference to be held later in the year. He encouraged all members to
attend these events in which he stressed that friendships and horizons
will be extended.

The meeting then went on to election of officer which was overseen by Cllr Jim Daly.
Elected on the night were as follows:
Chairman: Noel O’Donovan
Vice Chair: John O’Sullivan
Secretary: Brian O Donovan
Treasurers: Shane Buttimer & Jenny Bennett
Membership Officer: Eimear Hayes
Organiser: Shane McCarthy
PRO: Tadhg O’Donovan

YFG is the youth wing of the Fine Gael party and always welcomes new
members aged between 15 and 30. If you wish to join the branch do not
hesitate to contact us at carberyyfg@gmail.com.

Links:

http://www.talkofthetown.ie/clonakilty-local-news/young-fine-gael-agm

 

Carbery YFG Launching Jobs Plan

Cork Southwest Young Fine Gael (YFG) has this week welcomed the launch of the Fine Gael Jobs Plan –  an initiative that proposes to reduce the number of young people on the dole by one third over the next year. The plan involves a number of proposals aimed primarily at tackling joblessness among the under 25 age bracket. According to the Fine Gael document, the number of people under the age of 25 unemployed has increased from almost 34,000 in October 2007 to in excess of 85, 000 presently, representing an increase of 155% during this period.

Commenting on the initiative, chairman of the Cork Southwest branch of YFG, Noel O’Donovan expressed the urgent need for radical proposals to be implemented. “This country is starved of new thinking, this is exactly the type of leadership our generation so desperately craves. I am enormously proud of the Fine Gael party for producing such an innovative and constructive response to the current jobs crisis” declared Noel who heads up a branch of sixty members of young Fine Gael in West Cork.

The jobs plan put forward by Fine Gael proposes to set up a National Internship Programme, which would facilitate part time placements for graduates in the public service, private and voluntary sectors where the graduates would work half the week for a basic salary and be encouraged to pursue further studies the rest of the week funded by a €3,000 education voucher.

The scheme would involve internships such as teaching, nursing and local authority placements for up to 13,000 unemployed graduates. Coupled with this scheme, the jobs plan also puts forward community employment and second chance education schemes, which would be targeted again at unemployed persons under the age of 25.

The second chance education scheme is aimed at unemployed youth who would be paid two thirds of the minimum wage as well as an education allowance to facilitate them completing their education. Noel O’Donovan urges anyone interested in finding out more about what Fine Gael is proposing in a bid to reduce unemployment for under 25’s to log on to the Fine Gael website for full details of the plan.

“Currently one in every three men under the age of 25 is on the dole, I believe that statistic should be enough to force any society into taking immediate and radical steps, such as outlined in this Fine Gael document, without delay,” concluded Noel who along with his fellow branch members are this week out on the streets of West Cork delivering information on the plan to the public.

 

Pitch and Putt a Success

 

Vote Yes To Lisbon on October 2nd

• Makes Ireland and Europe more attractive for inward investment to our economy
• Ensures that Ireland retains control over our own tax rates
• Strengthens the European Central Bank, which has given Ireland a lifeline since the begginning of the recession
• Ensures that Ireland will keep its EU Commissioner
• Gives a greater role to the Dáil in influencing European laws and extends the powers of our elected MEPs.

What has Europe done for Us?

• Economy

Ireland has received a staggering €58 billion from the EU budget, or 3.3% of our GDP, and 60% of our exports go to Europe

• Student Exchange Programmes

1.2 million students have benefited from the ERASUS programme, sponsored by the EU

• Better Careers and Opportunities

EU citizens can now live, work and do business throughout the 27 countries

• Cheaper Phone Calls

The EU has led to a steady decrease in prices and recently brought an end to the roaming charges rip-off

• Peace

The EU has brought peace and stability to a continent which saw 80 million people die in two World Wars

• Environmental Protection

The EU has always treated protecting the environment as one of its top priorities

• Equal opportunities

All citizens are entitled to equal treatment and equal pay, regardless of gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation