Fine Gael contenders sign youth policies pledge

Ministers Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney have both signed a pledge committing themselves to promote policies that will benefit young people in Ireland. The Youth Pledge, drafted and promoted by Young Fine Gael, seeks to ensure that youth issues are at the heart of the Fine Gael leadership election. The pledge highlights five key areas for both candidates to focus on in their policy priorities ahead of the leadership election. The five areas highlighted are: Employment; Housing; Mental and Sexual Health; Education, and Agriculture.

Young Fine Gael is the youth wing of the Fine Gael party and, with approximately 3,000 members between the ages of 15 and 35, is the largest youth political party in Ireland. The Organisation’s aim is to give a voice to young people in politics. As both leadership candidates have signed the pledge, YFG is calling on the eventual winner to follow through on this commitment in Government.

President of YFG, Marian O’Donnell, commented: “It is great to see that both leadership candidates have signed the YFG Youth Pledge. With hustings about to begin across the country, it is crucial that youth issues are front and centre. Ireland is a young country but many young people feel disillusioned by politics and politicians. Therefore it is important that anyone who aspires to national leadership takes the concerns of Young Ireland on board. Over the next few days, YFG members across the country will be asking questions at the regional hustings on the issues that matter to them.”

Founded by Garret FitzGerald in 1977 as Ireland’s first independent political youth organisation, YFG has been involved in many political campaigns on issues such as insurance for young drivers, the price of housing for young homebuyers and the issue of youth depression and suicide. YFG is also a member of the Youth of the European People's Party (YEPP).