Young Greens

Óige Ghlas/Young Greens was formed in March 2002 and It is the youth branch of the Green Party/Comhaontas Glas, but retains autonomy in policy and strategic decisions. Its focus is primarily on ecological and "quality of life" issues, such as equality, infrastructure and sensible environmental planning. Despite its late entry onto the formal political stage, Óige Ghlas has gone from strength to strength, with national campaigns on the war in Iraq, fur farming, same-sex marriage rights and implementation of the Kyoto Protocol, and is now one of the fastest-growing youth political movements in Ireland.

Web: www.younggreens.ie

Young Fine Gael

Young Fine Gael (YFG) is the youth wing of the Fine Gael party and always welcomes new members aged between 15 and 30. As an autonomous youth organisation, it has the advantage of embodying the values of the senior party, while maintaining the independence to express views of young people. Members of YFG can also be members of Fine Gael and take part fully in the party at all levels. YFG has it’s own President and National Executive. In recent years YFG has campaigned effectively on issues such as The Nice Treaty, Insurance for Young Drivers, the price of housing for young Homebuyers and the issue of youth depression and suicide.

Website Address: www.yfg.ie

Ógra Fianna Fáil

Ógra Fianna Fáil presents young people with the opportunity to get directly involved in politics and political activity. Ógra Fianna Fáil is actively involved in debating and developing policy on a range of local and national issues. Membership of Ógra is open to anyone between 16 and 25 and there are branches in almost every constituency and third level college in the country.

Website: www.ogra.ie

Labour Youth

• Labour Youth is a democratic socialist youth organisation with members aged 15- 25 inclusive. Recent campaigns include:
• opposing the war against Iraq and the use of Shannon ariportby the U.S. war machine
• leading the opposition to proposals to re-introduce tuition fees
• boycott coke in defence of the right to join a trade union
• initiated the campaign against Anti Social Behaviour Orders which attack the civil liberties of young people
• supporting Irish Ferries workers and the threshold of decency campaign
• calling for the re-instatement of Joanne Delaney who was sacked for wearing a union badge by Dunnes Stores
• demanding the payment of grants on time - the picture above shows members of Labour leading an occupation of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Council in protest at late payments

Web: http://www.labour.ie/youth/

Irish Second-Level Students’ Union

ISSU represents the interests of second-level students across Ireland.The Irish Second-Level Students' Union (ISSU) aims to give students a voice in their education and in issues that affect them. ISSU connects students nationwide and is the national umbrella body for second-level school student councils.ISSU believes that Young People are not merely citizens in waiting.·
ISSU's work has three main strands: it aims to provide training, guidance and advice to empower students and equip them with the vital skills needed to become actively involved in the decision-making processes in their own school communities; and it aims to work in partnership with other organisations to bring the views of secondary school students to the attention of local and nationalpolicy-makers, as well as the media, in relation to educational issues.And our third and final aim to provide services to the membership of ISSU on the principal that control of those services lies with the membership.

Web: www.issu.ie

Union of Students in Ireland

The Union of Students in Ireland is the national representative body for students in Ireland. Founded in 1959, USI currently represents more than 250,000 students in 50 colleges across Ireland. The Union works for:An education system open to all irrespective of any consideration of national origin, race, sex, sexuality, creed, political beliefs or economic circumstances, so that each individual can realise their full potential in the service of the Irish People.

Website: www.usi.ie

ICTU Youth Committee

The Youth Committees are an important link between young people and trade unions, and play a role in advising the Executive Council of Congress on issues of concern to young workers and young unemployed people.Its progamme and work priorities are developed at a biennial conference for all young trade unionists. One of the objectives of the Committee structure is to encourage and offer a voice to young trade unionists, through training and other initiatives, to be active in their own unions.Congress Youth campaigns on issues which are relevant to young workers in particular and also on wider issues including housing for young people, developing a multi-cultural Ireland and global solidarity.

Website: www.ictu.ie