an Ireland for all Éire do chách The closest DART (local Dublin Rail) station to The RDS is serviced by bus numbers: the RDS is Sandymount, and is approximately a Merrion Road Stops: 27X, 4, 45, 4A, 5, 7, 7A, 8, 18 5 minute walk away. Anglesea Road Stops: 63, 84 From the Sandymount Dart Station: There are also a large numbers of routes serviced Follow the Exit signs and turn right onto through the Donnybrook Bus Garage stop which Sandymount Avenue. Continue until you reach is located only 10 minutes walk from the RDS. the traffic lights (Bewley’s Hotel and the Four Bus routes include: 10, 10A, 116, 118, 145, 25X, Seasons Hotel will be directly in front of you). 37X, 39B, 39X, 46A/B/C/E/X, 47, 66X, 67X, 70B, For the RDS Main Complex (Hall 1 – 7) then turn 746, 7B, 7D, 84X. right onto Merrion Road and the Main Complex is situated on the left hand side (Merrion Road). Contents Message from Micheál Martin TD .........................................................................4 General Secretary’s Welcome .................................................................................6 Córú Fhianna Fáil ........................................................................................................7 Membership Information ........................................................................................8 Dates for Your Diary ...................................................................................................9 1916 Centenary Celebrations ...............................................................................10 Ógra Fianna Fáil ........................................................................................................12 Fobairt na Gaeilge ....................................................................................................14 Carlow Kilkenny Bye-Election ...............................................................................15 Parliamentary Party Contact Details ..................................................................16 Current Ard Chomhairle .........................................................................................23 Honorary Secretaries’ Report ................................................................................24 Joint Honorary Treasurers’ Report .......................................................................28 Ard Fheis Elections ...................................................................................................31 Vice President ...............................................................................................34 Committee of 15 ..........................................................................................38 Resolutions .................................................................................................................47 Social Protection ..........................................................................................49 Communications, Energy and Natural Resources .............................50 Environment and Local Government ....................................................51 Health ..............................................................................................................53 Children ..........................................................................................................55 Finance and Public Expenditure .............................................................56 Transport, Tourism and Sport ..................................................................58 Defence ...........................................................................................................59 Justice and Equality ....................................................................................60 Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht ............................................................62 Agriculture, Food and Community Affairs ...........................................63 Education and Skills ....................................................................................64 Foreign Affairs & Northern Ireland .........................................................66 Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation .............................................................68 Organisation .................................................................................................70 76ú Ard-Fheis Clár 1 www.fiannafail.ie Note on Schedule Please Note: The schedule of events for the 76ú Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis is outlined separately in your Ard Fheis mailing and will also be available in the RDS throughout the event. Please make sure to consult it for the most up-to-date time and location information. Ard Fheis Entertainment Saturday Entertainment: Traditional Music Session, 9:30 in The Dubliner Bar, Ballsbridge Hotel. Traditional music from Fianna Fáil members and friends. Musicians and singers especially welcome to join in! To follow – Trabba 11.00 till late Message from Micheál Martin TD, Uachtarán Fhianna Fáil Fáilte go dti an 76ú Ard Fheis Fhianna Fáil. with the abuse of zero hour contracts, some Tá suil agam go mbulafidh me libh I rith workers are on these contracts for years and na deireadh seachtaine agus sinn ag ple na have no sense of progression in their work dushlain tabhachta ata os comhair ar dtir place. This needs to change. agus ar bpairti. The government are talking about reducing It is good to be back in the RDS. It has been taxes while at the same time introducing a very busy year since our last Ard Fheis in water and property taxes on top of their Killarney. Due to all your hard work and normal taxes. We will be discussing these dedication we had a very successful local challenges, along with the costs of childcare elections last May and actually did better during the weekend and how Fianna Fáil than any poll predicted. I want to thank believes these can be tackled. you all for your hard work and I believe We will also be outlining how the mortgage if we all remain focused on serving our crisis can be dealt with. This government communities we will also gain seats in the have failed people who are unable to pay general election. their mortgages as they have left the banks The economy is recovering but what Fine keep the veto on how mortgages are dealt Gael and Labour never mention is the seeds with. As a result, there are hundreds of of recovery that are growing now are as a repossession cases in the circuit courts in result of the National Recovery Plan and every county in the country. Ireland has the they voted against at every turn when they highest mortgage variable rates in Europe, were in opposition. However, the recovery yet the government is refusing to direct the is not being felt anywhere outside Dublin banks to deal with it. city. Fianna Fáil is deeply proud of its direct I have been canvassing with our bye roots in the rebellion of 1916. Our first election candidate Bobby Alyward in the leader, and the most successful Irish Carlow Kilkenny constituency and this is political leader of the 20th century, Éamon coming up at nearly every door. People De Valera was the most senior leader of the there believe this government have let rebellion to survive. The entire founding them down and that there is a crisis of generation of our party was made up of disconnection with rural Ireland. people who risked everything for the cause of their country in 1916. Communities are struggling and feel that the system is letting them down. Families We are proud of our heritage and we also are struggling and those who are lucky acknowledge the heritage of others. We see enough to have jobs are seeing diminishing our activities as one part of what should be returns for their work. Wages are lower an inclusive national commemoration and and there is a huge sense that workers are celebration of our State’s founding event. not getting a fair deal. We are seeing that www.fiannafail.ie Leader’s Welcome The Irish public has shown time and again Fianna Fáil has the largest number of that 1916 can inspire a modern, democratic members of any political party across the and international people. Fianna Fáil is country. Even though the polls have been proud of the role which the reintroduction disappointing of late we should all remain of a major state commemoration in 2006 focused and united on rebuilding our has played in this. great party. The next general election is a significant step on this journey. Finally, selection conventions are well underway and candidates are being selected Le gach dea ghui to contest the next general election. I want to wish every candidate and their teams the very best. Micheál Martin TD Uachtarán Fhianna Fáil 76ú Ard-Fheis Clár 5 General Secretary’s Welcome Seán Dorgan, General Secretary The theme of this year’s Ard Fheis is “An place for each candidate and constituency. Ireland for All” – and, over this weekend, Be assured that we will leave no stone our members and spokespeople will debate unturned as we prepare for this important and discuss the key challenges facing election. Ireland and our Party’s responses to these. As part of our candidate selection process, These debates will be very important and I our Party will also be focussed on running encourage you to participate fully in them. more women candidates. While this is now a In addition to the main debates in the legal requirement, it is also the right thing to Shelbourne Hall, we have organised many do. For too long, we have been behind the policy workshops and fringe meetings over curve in relation to this issue. I encourage