The YFG Leinster Regional Council Annual General Meeting was held in the Stand House Hotel, the Curragh, Co. Kildare, on Saturday 26 January 2008. The meeting followed a days campaigning in Newbridge where Kildare District YFG rolled out Young Fine Gael's TALK Campaign addressing the stigma of mental health and youth suicide (see below).

The meeting was opened by outgoing chairperson Simon Harris before the Regional Organiser for Leinster, Mel Farrell, rose to outline some of the tasks facing the organisation in Leinster. If we were serious about becoming the largest party in the state then we have to make inroads in Leinster he added. Mel suggested that the incoming LRC could use the breathing space after the General Election to think up policies that could solve the spin off problems of life on the commuter belt. He said jobs, childcare, school places and education were all areas that should be examined. Mel added that it was a pleasure to have worked on the outgoing committee as Secretary and thanked all the outgoing committee members for their time.

Following the Regional Organiser's address, each branch updated the council on recent and forthcoming activity. Ten branches were present and it was encouraging to see that each was in the process of planning AGMs and other evvents. At this point the council took the opportunity to congratulate Sean Conway of Meath East YFG on his being named YFG member of the year at the recent National Conference in Maynooth.

In his chairperson's report, Simon Harris echoed some points made by the Regional Organiser while pointing out that the outgoing committee gave most of its time to the 2007 General Election. He suggested there was now an opportunity to sit down and discuss policy with no election overshadowing the committee. The Chairperson then introduced the guest chairperson for the election of new officers, Cllr. Richard Daly from Athy.

In his address, Cllr. Daly spoke of his days in YFG and particularly his memories of the youth organisation's foundation. He spoke fondly of the decision to inaugurate an autonomous youth wing for Fine Gael in the late 1970s and of his time as President of Young Fine Gael. Cllr. Daly went on to question the economic credentials of the Taoiseach and his party, pointing out that for ten years we were told the economic boom was down only to the skills of Bertie Ahern. However, now that the economy wasn't doing so well the government tells us that the economy is influenced by external factors, the US economy, Europe etc and has nothing to do with the cabinet. In short, Fianna Fail possessed a great PR machine!

Cllr. Daly was encouraged by the large attendance at the meeting and urged Young Fine Gael in the localities to stand up and speak out whenever they see people being denied what is their entitlement. He stated "Local issues are crucial. People in your area being denied what they deserve are reflecting something that isn't unique to your locality but is in fact representative of a national trend. Our duty in Fine Gael is to find those people, speak out on their behalf, and to make for them a Just Society".

There then followed the election of officers. Kate Geraghty of Kildare District was elected Vice Chairperson. Orlene Ferrick and John Power of NUI Maynooth were elected Secretary and Treasurer respectively. Simon Harris was elected PRO and John Lehart became organiser on the committee.

In the battle for Chairperson, Sarah Moore of Wexford pipped Jeff Walsh of Carlow. Jeff was subsequently brought onto the committee as an ordinary committee member.

Sarah Moore took the Chair and discussed the role the LRC will play in the coming years. She hoped that the incoming committee would discover better ways of serving the membership of Young Fine Gael and providing them with a forum.

Following some further policy discussion the meeting was concluded and a presentation from the Social Affairs Committee on Father's Rights Followed.