Dear Member,
I am writing to you in advance of the annual Garret Fitzgerald Summer School regarding what is a change to the traditional schedule.
As you are no doubt aware, at last year's inaugural event we created one specialised motion for debate, called the Garret FitzGerald motion. This year's motion will be an exceptionally important one, as it relates to the position we will take on the future of Seanad Éireann.
I want to make you aware that today, Wednesday, the YFG Vice-President, Carol Madigan, and I met with the Minister Richard Burton, who is the Director of Elections for the forthcoming referendum on Seanad abolition. We discussed a number of issues around the referendum with Minister Bruton, who then outlined the strong case for abolition as part of the Government's reform agenda for our political system which aims to improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of politics in Ireland.
When we meet this Saturday, you as a member will decide the position of YFG by voting on this motion. At its last meeting, the YFG National Executive voted unanimously to support the abolition of the Seanad. But we feel that, due to the significance of this issue, YFG members should have the opportunity to make the decision about our position as an organisation.
I look forward to a rigorous debate and meeting you all in Kilkenny this weekend.
Kind Regards,
Patrick Molloy,
President,
Young Fine Gael.
