University of Galway to host Simon Harris’ first ardfheis as Fine Gael leader, with the party hoping to ‘reset’ and ‘reconnect’ with voters’ first as party leader. At it he will outline his priorities and plans for the party that he says is seeking to “renew, reset and reconnect” with voters.An ardfheis or “high assembly” is the biggest event in an Irish political party’s diary and is essentially a conference open to all party members.
Alongside setting out the party’s direction, a range of motions are debated and voted on. Motions can be suggested by local branches, constituency executives or councillors and usually call on the party to take action on a particular issue. For example, at Fine Gael’s ardfheis on Saturday, more than 160 motions are scheduled.
These will include calls to introduce a middle-income tax band of 30 per cent, provide lethal military aid to Ukraine, increase funding for childcare and prioritise the building of starter homes for purchase at affordable prices. If passed and, each political party has slightly different rules around motions, certain motions can feed into policy decisions or party manifestos in the future.
And for all parties, including Fine Gael, the elephant in the room is the looming general election. Ministers, TDs and senators will often take part in discussions and debates on broader themes such as business, farming and housing which encompass the motions. Elections are also held for a party’s national executive committee which in the case of Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin is also known as the árd comhairle.